Gary Megson is battling to save his job after an extraordinary bust-up with defender Jlloyd Samuel.
The Bolton chief flew into a half-time rage at Wolves last weekend and the pair went "nose-to-nose" during their amazing scenes.
Bolton's stunned players, who were trailing 1-0 at Molineux, had to separate the pair before any punches could be thrown.
And the explosive row, allied with Bolton's poor form, means Megson now has just two games to save his job, with former England manager Steve McClaren being chairman Phil Gartside's top choice to replace him.
After the bust-ups between manager Tony Pulis and striker James Beattie at Stoke, and boss Jim Magilton and midfielder Akos Buzsaky at QPR, the Bolton flare-up is the third to rock English football in a crazy week.
According to Reebok sources, Samuel was the peacemaker when Megson launched into his players at the break at Wolves.
Megson began a tirade at two Bolton players that was only interrupted when Samuel told his manager "enough's enough".
The Bolton left-back told Megson it was a team game and that others were also responsible for Jody Craddock's third-minute goal.
That prompted Megson to turn on Samuel in a vicious exchange, with both hurling insults at each other and the defender adding: "It's no wonder none of the players want to play for you."
That appeared to be the case in the second half when Wolves scored again through Nanad Melijas.
Although Bolton pegged them back when Johan Elmander - who replaced Samuel after 71 mintues - scored, they could not find an equaliser.
The defeat left Megson's side second bottom of the Premier League and without a win since October.
Dramatic
Megson had already ruffled the feathers of the players by demanding that they return to the north west before they flew to Ireland for their Christmas party.
The players had wanted to travel from Birmingham International straight after the game, but Megson vetoed it.
Instead they had to board the team bus before flying out of Manchester airport on Sunday evening to begin their party.
It seems troubles continue to mount for Megson, now a visit from fellow strugglers West Ham followed by a journey to Wigan could see him out of a job.
Chairman Gartside has assured senior players that dramatic changes would be made if results didn't turn around quickly.
And former England and Middlesbrough boss McClaren is Gartside's top target to replace his beleaguered manager.
McClaren may have been a dud for the national side but he was reasonably successful at Middlesbrough and in Holland has been a revelation at the helm of FC Twente.