Bolton Wanderers have drawn up a shortlist to replace Ian Evatt which includes Rotherham United manager Steve Evans, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
The Trotters parted company with Evatt earlier today, with the club announcing a split by mutual consent had been agreed. The 43-year-old’s departure came the morning after a 2-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic, their third loss in five league outings.
Bolton are desperate to pull themselves out of League One. They missed out on promotion in agonising fashion last season in the play-off final against Oxford United and they currently sit ninth in the table.
With just three points between them and the top six, it felt as if the change was needed to salvage their campaign and earn a spot in the play-offs once again.
Evans Identified As Potential Replacement
It was inevitable that the rumours surrounding Evatt’s successor would circulate in the immediate aftermath of the announcement. What nobody saw coming though was that Steve Evans has been named as a potential candidate.
The 62-year-old returned to Rotherham last year in preparation for a return to League One. The Millers suffered a poor first half of the season, although form has turned around in recent weeks. They are yet to taste defeat this year and are unbeaten in five. This has seen them move up to 13th and to within six points of the play-off places.
Nixon claims that the former Stevenage boss is one name on the radar, alongside ex-Stoke City head coach Steven Schumacher and St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson.
Writer’s View
This rumour is straight from the left field. Evans certainly has success at this level and there would perhaps be slightly more chance of this happening if he was unemployed. However, he is currently at a club in which he has good rapport, and it seems exceptionally unlikely that he’ll be swapping Yorkshire for Greater Manchester anytime soon. Furthermore, Bolton fans will be hoping for a little more ambition in their next appointment.
Robinson would be an interesting choice and Schumacher is probably the best available for a club at this level right now. As for Evans, there’s probably more chance of Sir Alex Ferguson coming out of retirement to take the reins at the Toughsheet Community Stadium…
