Championship News: Kevin Davies Hit Out At Former Bolton Manager Dougie Freedman Claiming His Reign Was Doomed To Fail

The ex-Wanderers striker has publicly criticised Freedman's handling of affairs at the Macron Stadium after Neil Lennon was confirmed as his successor on Sunday afternoon.

The former Crystal Palace boss parted ways with the club earlier this month following a woeful run of results which had left them rooted in the Sky Bet Championship's bottom three.

Davies, a former Bolton captain, was released by the club when Freedman was in charge in 2013 and has now lifted the lid on what working under the Scot was like.

"I don't want to come across as bitter, but I think he created a bad atmosphere," he told talkSPORT.

"It became a sterile place. What the club stood for when Sam Allardyce was there was the fans, the togetherness. It was a great club, a family club, and it felt like that had been ripped out. It wasn't a great place to be.

"I didn't really enjoy training. There was a line between the staff and the players and the people at the academy. There were factions around the club.

"It needs to be brought together. There is a lot of work to do. Everyone needs to be pulling in the right direction."

Davies follows goalkeeper Jay Lynch and midfielder Gregg Wylde, another two players jettisoned by Freedman, in publicly lamenting their former manager's style.

The current Preston striker, who spent nearly 10 years at Bolton, has backed new boss Lennon to be a hit at the Macron Stadium, though.

"I think it is a good appointment by the club. It is just what they need really," he added.

"I watched them play two or three weeks ago and the fans were really frustrated and the players looked like they were lacking in confidence and direction. As a young manager, he will bring a lot of enthusiasm into the club.

"He has got a big job on his hands, but I think he is capable of getting them out of the trouble they are in right now."