Evatt set to ‘do a Barrow’
At Bolton
BOLTON’S new boss Ian Evatt loves a challenge – and this season with the Trotters will be no different.
The worry about whether the club would continue has disappeared thanks to new ownership but life at The University of Bolton Stadium is far from normal.
Already 17 players – with more to come – have been signed by Evatt, who succeeded Keith Hill in July.
Almost 8,000 season tickets have been bought and the former Barrow boss is under pressure to succeed, with bookies making Bolton favourites to win League Two.
They have been encouraged by marquee signings at this level.
These include striker Eoin Doyle – whose 28 goals in 25 games helped Swindon gain promotion from League Two last season – as well as Plymouth midfielder Antoni Sercevic and Blackpool forward Nathan Delfouneso.
Winning a league title with so many new faces is normally a tall order but Evatt, 38, is ready to face it head on.
Just as he was this time last year, guiding National League Barrow to promotion with a brand of attacking football that he had introduced the previous season.
“Someone saying you can’t do this, you can’t do that, inspires me,” said the former Blackpool defender. “It’s been the same throughout my career.
“As a centre-half some people questioned whether I was good enough. I won many Player of the Year trophies. At Barrow, people told me that we wouldn’t ever get promoted playing the way we did.
“But we did and they are in the Football League.”