Bolton Wanderers have appointed former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City manager Steven Schumacher as their new head coach following the departure of Ian Evatt earlier this month.

Evatt had been the longest serving boss in League One, joining Bolton in the summer of 2020, but after being subject to growing pressure, the 43-year-old departed by mutual consent.

Schumacher comes into the role with Bolton sat in seventh place, level on points with sixth place Leyton Orient in the final play-off position, although the O's boast a game in hand.

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The Whites were expected to secure promotion to the Championship last season but were beaten 2-0 by Oxford United in the play-off final.

The former Plymouth and Stoke boss, who led Argyle to the League One title two seasons ago, has been out of work since being sacked by the Potters in September after nine months in charge.

Speaking to club media, Schumacher said: "This means everything to me. It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm really grateful to be given it by Sharon and the ownership group. It's a fantastic club with a rich history and the journey and the project here is something I can't wait to get involved with.

“It's been an interesting career journey for me so far and I'm now at a fantastic club, a club which I believe can go on and do great things this season and in the future.

“I’m walking into a group which still has an awful lot to play for this season. It’s not too often you get given an opportunity like this with a team that’s only outside the play-offs on goal difference.

“That's credit to what Ian (Evatt) did and I'm quite lucky to come into a group that's in good form. The work this week that Julian (Darby), Andy Taylor and Andrew Tutte have done has been incredible. The lads have got two really good results and hopefully we can go and get a third good result at the weekend.

“The message to the lads will be to go and be themselves, play with confidence and hopefully we can get a few results on the board and keep this season going in the way we want it to go and achieve the objectives the club is desperate to do.”

Bristol Rovers are still due to play Bolton twice this season after the home fixture scheduled for December 9 was postponed due to safety concerns amid red weather warnings. That clash will take place on March 11 with the away fixture scheduled for April 5.

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