Assessing Evatt's reign

by Liam Hatton

So, what do we want to talk about this week?

I suppose the news that quite frankly seemed inevitable has finally happened as Ian Evatt is no longer manager of Bolton Wanderers after four-and-a-half-years. Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic being the final straw had a touch of irony as it was more like Evatt’s Bolton of old, but defensive frailties reared their head once more.

The atmosphere throughout the stadium was akin to that moment in the Harry Potter films when the Dementors appeared on screen - cold, gloomy and despondent. Everything that was once positive, all of the hope and expectation enforced by ‘Brand Evatt’, promises of possession based football with dominance in all facets of the pitch had evaporated.

You can argue when that downfall first started, whether it was after Wembley or even at the turn of 2024, but something has just felt off for quite some time. It wasn’t meant to end like this because even after Evatt had navigated the early speed bumps in his inaugural League Two campaign. We all witnessed the aesthetically pleasing football of ‘Barrow-celona’, with promotion tasting oh so good, especially after the horrors endured under the Ken Anderson regime and the fallout from that.

We envisioned that when Evatt was to depart, it would be because a club bigger and better than Bolton would come knocking. The narrative was supposed to say that Evatt would dazzle, he would shine, he would captivate and have potential suitors far and wide turning their heads at such speed they would be setting up whiplash claims. For the first few years that appeared to be the way things were heading, with a club stabilised in League One just a handful of years after nearly going bust.

But that argument of ‘we nearly didn’t have a club’ only held up for so long, and progression back to the Championship was then a matter of when, not if. Evatt went close twice, his first play-off spell ended in a semi-final defeat to Barnsley. The team had some of the ingredients but they missed that extra zing.

Last season looked promising, as 12 months ago Evatt’s men were in pole position, with games in hand and a chance to comfortably place themselves in the automatic spots. But things started to unravel - Bolton blew big games such as Portsmouth, Derby, Blackpool and Wigan away. They limped into the play-offs in third spot, before they squeezed past Barnsley in a semi-final rematch from the year prior.

Had the players already bought into their stock too soon? Bottles of beer were being opened in the corporate box while fans stormed the pitch. Confidence was relatively high heading into the final, especially coming off the back of a cup win at Wembley the year prior. This was meant to be Bolton’s time as they geared up to face Oxford United - a team that they had handled thoroughly 5-0 in the league just weeks prior.

However, we all know how that chapter ended and truthfully, the club and Evatt just never recovered from that heart-breaking loss. The discontent towards Evatt and the shouts for him to leave quickly ramped up from a murmur to a vocal majority.

Did Evatt help himself along the way by some of his comments to the media, effectively adopting a ‘me vs the world’ mentality? Probably not, but we knew from day one what we had bought into - Evatt was bold, he was brash and he always did things his way.

Maybe that contributed to his downfall, rarely deviating from his tried and trusted 3-5-2 formation - a system so reliant on effective play from the centre backs, who have no doubt regressed. Teams had figured it out, they had learnt to press and then realised that Bolton’s squad could not consistently deal with opposing players in their face.

With that said, we can’t forget the good times. There is an argument that Evatt has left somewhat of a legacy, and in an industry where job security for managers is scarce, that longevity is a welcome sight. The owners will be looked on favourably by potential candidates they interview, if not only for their reluctance to chop and change the manager at will.

But if we’re being honest, they are not totally blameless for letting this drag on either. Evatt absolutely should have gone much earlier, and giving him money to spend on Joel Randall and bringing in loanee Alex Murphy, only to part ways days later is a questionable move to say the least. But the move had to be made and it’s better late than never.

Evatt ultimately gave us more good times than bad, but as Jules Darby said about the next manager: “They’re representing that badge, and that badge goes a long way.”

Ian's way

by Lee Sidebotham

We fell in love with this football club again thanks to you.

Promotion during the bleakest of times. Thrashing the likes of Sunderland, Exeter, Peterborough. That day at Wembley winning the EFL Trophy. Reaching the play-off final after retribution against Barnsley from the year before. These moments will stay with every single supporter for the rest of their lives.

You always gave it everything and left no stone unturned. That went a long way for a lot of fans. You are the reason many came back to this football club after years of boycotting and lost hope. You gave the whole town something to look forward to again.

We all wanted nothing more than to see you succeed and get us back to where we belong, and we took a big step towards doing just that. You did much of this off your own back while sacrificing time with your family, and we will be forever grateful for the commitment you have shown us.

Sure, there were moments to forget. I’m sure we’ll all look back at those games against Wigan under your tenure and laugh, eventually anyway. I thought the abuse you got towards the end was completely uncalled for and way over the top. You certainly shouldn’t have had to apologised for a brief moment of passion as you walked down the tunnel the other week.

For me and others, it showed just how much you cared about this club despite what must have felt like the world on top of your shoulders. You will soon find those same fans who wanted you out are now putting the highest amount of respect on your name.

The last 12 months didn’t exactly go to plan, but that doesn’t overshadow the four and a half years' worth of fantastic moments for us all to look back on proudly. Look at where we were just over five years ago. We were in what was the worst period in the 145-year history of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. We had five players contracted and left with no choice but to field our youth team. We were just hours away from not even being here anymore. Along with Sharon, you helped turn things around and just look at us now.

It was a tough decision, but perhaps it’ll turn out to be the correct one for everyone. There’s no doubt in my mind you will have just as much success no matter where your next tenure is. Whoever’s next to step into our dugout has some extraordinary shoes to fill.

Thank you for the memories, Ian.

Big decision ahead

by Chris McKeown

The last two home games against opposition in poor form posed a big chance for the team to finally get the season going at the late stage of January, but sadly taking just one point from those matches proved to be the last opportunity for Ian Evatt, with news filtering through and later confirmed that his time at BWFC was up.

This season has been one of the most topsy-turvy and turbulent times in our recent history, certainly since the lockdown period and especially after the ‘rebirth’ of Bolton Wanderers under FV.

The Oxford play-off final proved to be a long lasting injury - no plaster over the cut would suffice, the after effects still being felt and perhaps only now can a pair of fresh eyes on the wound give it a chance to heal.

Despite reinvestment and tactical changes in pre-season (seemingly quickly abandoned), it seems that the hangover of Wembley wasn’t shifted. Only a quick start and being in contention at the top end of the table from day one might have been the salvation.

Certain results have taken their toll on the fanbase and no doubt the manager, the board and the squad too - and in the end a change in the dugout was perhaps inevitable.

The glory of the Papa John Trophy win - and the feel good factor from that will forever be etched in memory - was perhaps supposed to be the catalyst to greater things, not the pinnacle?

Evatt delivered for this club in the early and middle part of his tenure, that won’t be forgotten, but missed opportunities and sliding doors spring to mind to describe this last year or so.

The timing of the decision will bear its own questions, especially after recent transfers and with the window closing soon. It leaves the new manager a with a short timeframe to do any potential business.

I still believe, with some tweaks and a couple of more physical players to supplement this squad, that the season is far from over.

The next step for FV is a big decision and they must get it right. I look forward to seeing who gets the nod.

It did feel like a breath of fresh air was needed at BWFC. Well, the door is open and the club ready for the wind of change.