EVATT’S ALL SET TO TROTT OFF?
BARROW are bracing themselves for the departure of ti- tle-winning manager Ian Evatt with the 38-year-od odds-on favourite to be named as the new boss of Bolton Wanderers.
The Trotters, who sacked Keith Hill following relegation from League One, made an official approach for Evatt on Thursday night.
However, reports on Friday suggested the deal was close to collapse over Bolton’s reluctance to pay a £225,000 compensation clause in the three-year deal signed by Evatt in October 2019.
“We made sure when he signed his new contract there’s a golden handcuff and a maswill sive amount of compensation there,” said Barrow owner Paul Hornby.
“And there are no installments. If you want him, you pay in one hit. I am unrelenting on that.”
Compromise
Initially it appeared that Football Ventures (FV), who bought Bolton out of administration in August, were attempting to haggle a compromise.
Holker Street sources even claimed that Bolton made a “derisory offer” that was “well below” the buy-out fee in Evatt’s contract.
But it later emerged that the actual compensation fee was closer to £130,000 and that the wrangling was caused by a disagreement over both the wording of Evatt’s contract and the availability of assistant Peter Atherton.
Those issues were resolved on Friday afternoon and it is now expected that Evatt – named the NGA Manager of the Year last week – will be tasked with leading the Trotters back into League One.
FV’s tough stance is a reflection of their determination to run Bolton sustainably after a decade of financial chaos that culminated in last season’s brush with extinction.
The financial situation remains uncertain and the club be operating under a transfer embargo until the summer of 2021.
That is why they initially interviewed several free agents, including former England defender Chris Powell, Scotland coach Steven Reid and ex-Grimsby Town head coach Mike Jolley. As negotiations faltered, at least one was invited back for an informal chat on Friday.
Evatt, though, was always the No.1 target after a remarkable campaign which saw Barrow promoted to the Football League despite a budget amongst the lowest in the division.