Bolton Wanderers chairman Sharon Brittan has confirmed that Ian Evatt will remain in charge at the club ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The Trotters are gearing up for a fourth campaign in League One after a 2-0 defeat against Oxford United in the League One play-off final last month. It was a major disappointment for the Greater Manchester-based side, who had gone into the clash at Wembley Stadium as heavy favourites.
Bolton had pushed eventual automatic promotion winners Portsmouth and Derby County all the way, whilst the U’s only secured their spot in the top six on the final day. However, it was Des Buckingham’s side which triumphed to secure their spot in the Championship.
There were question marks as to whether Evatt would remain at the Toughsheet Community Stadium into next season after four years at the helm. These questions have now been answered, with chairman Sharon Brittan confirming that she had met with the 42-year-old last week:
she told Bolton News
“Coming away from that game was such a horrible, horrible feeling,”
“Chris Markham said to me that he’d never seen anyone in football more devastated than Ian was after that defeat, not just the result, but the manner of the defeat.
“I met with Ian last week and, like me, he’d needed some time to process what happened.
“They are both fantastic, different in what they do but very smart, very driven, loyal, and all three of us just needed some time to think about what had happened before we reviewed the season in its entirety and what they need to do next season to make sure we are absolutely fit for purpose and ready to go. And we will be.”
League One has proven difficult to escape from for several clubs that have dropped to the third tier in recent years. The same is to be said for Bolton, but Evatt will be given all the tools needed to have a real go at it again:
“I am doing a root and branch review across the entire business to make sure everyone who is in place isn’t just fit for purpose but they excel. And that is in all areas of the business.
“Ian and Chris excel in what they do. They certainly couldn’t put any more into it than they do. They both care hugely, they are incredibly respectful of money, of the way I run the business, they don’t make demands, they work within the parameters that me and the board offer them.
“We accept this season from a financial standpoint we will have to increase the investment to make sure we are up there, we are competitive. But I have to caveat that – because we were almost there, last season. Almost isn’t good enough but we were nearly there with the fifth biggest budget in League One, and that is because of how smart they work.”
Earlier this week, Bolton confirmed friendlies against Stoke City and Port Vale as they look to hit the ground running in August.