Latest news with #IanEvatt
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plymouth to begin final interviews for head coach
Plymouth Argyle will hold their final interviews for a new head coach next Pilgrims are looking for a replacement for Miron Muslic, who left to join German side Sport understands Argyle held exploratory talks with a number of initial candidates in the wake of Muslic's those talks as many as four candidates will be interviewed again for the role in the coming seven were relegated from the Championship last month, but chairman Simon Hallett says they will have a bigger budget next season than when the club won League One in 2023. Among the favourites with bookmakers to take over are former Arsenal midfielder and Norwich City coach Jack Wilshere, former Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt and ex-Oxford United head coach Des Pilgrims have already signed four new players with Hertha Berlin midfielder Bradley Ibrahim joining on Wednesday after Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie, Coventry City striker Jamie Paterson and Exeter City midfielder Caleb Watts all moved to Home new boss will have a number of key decisions to make, including on the futures of key players Adam Randell and Ryan Hardie, who have a year left to run on their deals. Argyle have also offered a new contract to Sierra Leone forward Mustapha Bundu who ended the season strongly under Muslic. Argyle's new head coach will work under newly-appointed head of football operations David Fox and alongside new head of recruitment Tom Randle.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The key dates for Wanderers and their rivals ahead of transfer window
With the summer transfer window opening this weekend, here are all the key dates you need to make note of. The EFL window begins from Sunday, June 1 but will only stay open for 10 days initially. It will then close again until Monday, June 16 when it will remain open until deadline day on Monday, September 1. The deadline has also been brought forward to 7pm, which means clubs will be required to complete deals before the usual 11pm cut-off point. The EFL explained why the changes have been made for the upcoming window in an official update earlier this month. It read: 'Due to an additional FIFA Club World Cup registration period introduced ahead of the start of the FIFA Club World Cup, the EFL and its clubs have agreed that the summer transfer window shall operate for an additional 10-day period from Sunday, June 1 2025 to 19:00 on Tuesday, June 10 2025. 'This is due to the transfer window being unable to exceed a total of 89 days. 'The FIFA regulation on this matter permits the member associations of clubs playing in the FIFA Club World Cup to establish this exceptional registration period, and there is therefore likely to be considerable transfer activity taking place across the world's major leagues during this time. READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers prediction made in early 2025/26 League One table 'The EFL therefore believes that its clubs should also have the opportunity to be active in the market at this time. 'The FIFA Club World Cup is set to take place between 14 June 2025 and 13 July 2025.' Steven Schumacher is heading into his first summer as Wanderers boss, having succeeded Ian Evatt in the hot seat several months ago. The head coach will be looking to put his stamp on the squad following the departures of Ricardo Santos, Gethin Jones and Nathan Baxter, which were confirmed in the retained list several weeks ago. Supporters are also eagerly awaiting the 2025/26 fixture release, which takes place at 12pm on Thursday, June 26.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Julian Darby provides unifying moment for Wanderers to get season back on track
FOR the first time since the uncertain days of Covid, Project Restart and Kitchen Discos, Bolton Wanderers found themselves without a manager. Ian Evatt had built a squad to his blueprint over four-and-a-half years and had been given licence to spend seven figures on Joel Randall less than a fortnight before the walked out of the doors for good. His relationship with the Bolton fans had deteriorated to the point that separation felt inevitable, yet with half a season left to run there was no time to navel gaze. Wanderers needed to make some good decisions, fast. With Evatt's right-hand men Matt Gilks, Stephen Crainey and Pete Atherton also gone, the Whites turned to one of their own to take interim charge. Julian Darby had 40 years earlier turned professional with his hometown club and had already lived the boyhood dream of progressing through the system to play more than 300 games for the club between 1986 and 1995. Now in charge of the Under-18s – themselves in the midst of a successful campaign – 'Jules' was asked to step up, with B Team coaches Andy Taylor and Andy Tutte for company. CHAPTERS Post-Wembley discussion paves the way for a rocky season at Bolton Wanderers Brand Evatt comes under fire as Wanderers' season takes turn for the worse Wanderers season review part three: Stockport, Wigan, and a manager on the edge Inconsistency rules as Evatt's spell at Bolton Wanderers boss comes to an end Other than calling Szabi Schon by completely the wrong name in his first training session and having his regular routines around the town being slowed by continual requests for selfies and a chat, Darby could not have asked for a better time as interim boss. Bolton had appointed someone who knew a thing or two about playing under supporter pressure, and the 57-year-old was happy to admit he struggled with the boo-boys in the grim days of Burnden Park in the late eighties. But his message to the group he now had to lead into battle at Huddersfield was a simple one: 'Just go and prove them all wrong!' 'Listen, everything isn't always sweet and rosy,' he said. 'You are going to hve times when things are stacked against you and the mental strength has to come through. 'Did I have a bad time back then? Yes I did. Was I playing well? No, I wasn't really, no. But Phil Neal had seen something in me and kept playing me and playing me. Was it hard? It was really hard at the time. 'I'm so pleased there was no social media back then. There were just letters in the Bolton Evening News that Gordon Sharrock used to put in! 'Times have changed but you still have to get on with it. You need the mental strength and to think: 'Right, I'm going to prove these people wrong!' A team which had buckled under the weight of pressure looked a totally different prospect in West Yorkshire. Darby's simplified plan won't necessarily get its own Tifo but it brought something we had not seen from the players involved for some time. Dion Charles – who had been sold by Bolton for £700,000 after leading the club's scoring charts for the previous three campaigns – was completely ineffectual and teased mercilessly by the away fans behind the goal. Wanderers fans had a fantastic time at Huddersfield in Julian Darby's first game (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd) Players dance in front of the supporters after the 1-0 win against Huddersfield Town (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd) Though Michael Duff would bizarrely claim Aaron Collins's 55th minute winner had made it a 'smash and grab' affair, his own team hadn't put a shot on target for three quarters of the match and despite splashing out on some big signings, they too were watching promotion hopes vanish down the plughole. 'Sideways and backwards, not anymore!' rejoiced the away fans, still throwing jibes at the former manager and thoroughly enjoying their afternoon in the winter sun. But once the final whistle went, centre stage belonged to Darby, and more accurately, to his two-year-old grandson, Bobby, who stared up at the commotion without a care in the world. From the toxicity on the terraces during the final weeks under Ian Evatt, harmony had been restored. The interim manager had provided a unifying moment with the win at Huddersfield and as he assessed the game, his words formed a perfect job-specification for the board, who were interviewing candidates to take the role full-time. 'You roll your sleeves up, that's all the supporters are after,' he said. 'You might win, you might lose a couple, but they are all asking for 100 per cent, and that's what I said to the players. 'You wear the shirt and that badge with flipping pride. You go and win your tackles because you are tough Northerners and it's what we do. 'Every one of them did that and I can't praise them enough.' The Darby Party would have to run a little longer than initially planned, and no sooner had he got his feet back on the ground, the interim boss was planning for the visit of Northampton Town the following Tuesday. Kevin Nolan – another member of the 300-game club – brought a team to Bolton for the first time as a manager. Had circumstances worked out differently when Football Ventures first took over in 2019, he may have had a crack at managing Wanderers, the nod eventually going to Keith Hill. Kevin Nolan came back to Bolton as a manager for the first time with Northampton Town (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker) Aaron Collins scored the third goal of the night in the 3-1 win against Northampton Town (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker) Fans gave 'Nobby' a warm reception before kick-off but the biggest cheers were once again reserved for Darby, serenaded as 'one of our own'. The game was once again full of passion, George Thomason setting the Whites on their way with an early goal cancelled out by Liam Shaw. The same player then turned an Aaron Collins cross past his own goalkeeper, and Collins went on to cement three points with a third goal seven minutes from the end. Darby led a gracious lap of appreciation at the end knowing his jobs" target="_blank">work had been done – at least at first team level. It was back to the Under-18s to complete what would end up a treble-winning season. He had no desire to take the post full-time and after the match he shared what he had told the dressing room. 'I said I'd like to thank them all from the bottom of my heart,' he added. 'I'd like to thank them for what they have done for me and the memories you have made for me in the last two games. 'They have been very special, something I could never have envisaged. I never ever thought I would manage Bolton Wanderers, 100 per cent not. 'But to get the full set, going all the way through from an apprenticeship to player to manager, it's the stuff of dreams, really.' Though the club's official line that night was that the manager search was 'ongoing' it would only be two days before the reins were officially passed on to Bolton's 26th post-war manager, and a person who definitely knew his way out of League One.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Cardiff City manager favourite confirms offers on the table and is 'ready to go'
Cardiff City manager favourite confirms offers on the table and is 'ready to go' The favourite for the vacant Bluebirds manager job has spoken as the search draws close to an end Former Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt (Image: Getty Images ) The bookmakers' favourite to become the next Cardiff City manager, Ian Evatt, has revealed he has received job offers and is "ready to go again". The former Blackpool defender has been out of work since he left Bolton Wanderers at the start of the year following a successful stint with the Trotters. Cardiff are on the lookout for Omer Riza's permanent successor, after he was sacked with three games to go. Cardiff, of course, were ultimately unable to avoid the drop to League One. It is understood that a shortlist has been drawn up with a number of candidates having been spoken to. Evatt currently leads the bookies' list, ahead of Des Buckingham, the former Oxford United manager. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community Speaking about a potential return to management amid links to the Cardiff job, Evatt told the Blackpool Gazette: 'It's the first time in 27 years that I've had a break from football, I went straight from playing to being a manager. 'I've been a manager for seven years, and at one club for five - that takes some doing in modern day football. Article continues below 'I was ready for a rest, and I've really enjoyed the break, but I'm starting to get itchy feet again and thinking about what comes next. 'I've had some offers that I've turned down, and didn't feel was quite right for me at that moment, but there's things happening all of the time. I'll wait and be patient, and try to pick the right option. 'When you're in the game, it's 24 hours a day and it's hard to gain perspective on what you've achieved, and also to grow and improve - and spend time thinking about what went well and what didn't go well. 'I've had a lot of success in seven years: I've had promotions, I've won trophies, I think I've got the highest win ratio of any Bolton manager post-war, so I've done a lot so far, but the last few months have been helpful for me and I'm ready to go again.' The former defender, 43, transitioned from a successful playing career to management, making significant impacts at both Barrow and Bolton. Evatt began his managerial journey with Barrow in 2018, leading them to promotion to the English Football League in the 2019/20 season — the club's first in 48 years. His attacking philosophy earned the team the nickname "Barrowcelona." Article continues below In July 2020, Evatt took the helm at Bolton, then struggling in League Two and secured automatic promotion in his first season. Under his guidance, Bolton won the EFL Trophy in 2023 with a 4–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle at Wembley. He also led the team to the League One play-off final in the 2023/24 season. Over his tenure at Bolton, Evatt managed 261 games, achieving 132 wins, 52 draws, and 77 losses — a win rate of approximately 50%. His tenure concluded in January 2025 following some underwhelming performances. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Wanderers boss Ian Evatt installed as favourite for vacant Cardiff City job
FORMER Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has been installed as the favourite for the vacant job at Cardiff City. The 43-year-old has been out of jobs" target="_blank">work since leaving Bolton in late January but is now rated above the likes of Des Buckingham and Steven Gerrard in the bookies' reckoning. Cardiff are searching for a new manager to lead them back into the Championship after relegation and that a shortlist of around 10 names has now been drawn up. Wales online claim at least one candidate has already discussed the job prior to the official interview process, which will be overseen by a subcommittee comprising of academy head Gavin Chesterfield, ex-Rangers and Swansea sporting director Mark Allen and a representative from sporting agency Wasserman – who also look after the affairs of ex-Liverpool midfielder Gerrard. The club had hoped to have a new man in charge by the end of this month, and reports suggest the Bluebirds will prioritise experience of English football and CVs which include a promotion. Evatt led Bolton out of League Two via automatic promotion in 2021 and took them to two play-offs, losing in the final last season against Oxford United. He also won the Papa Johns Trophy in 2023 but suffered a poor start to the most recent campaign and left the club in ninth spot before being replaced by Steven Schumacher. Since leaving Bolton Evatt has done some media work and he was also linked strongly to the Carlisle United job before the appointment of Mark Hughes. Speaking about the circumstances of his departure on Sky Sports in March, he said: 'It was more my decision, to be honest. I had a feeling that I needed a break, just to refresh and a new challenge. 'Five years is a really long time and in current football, modern day football. I was speaking to the guys before about old managers having that longevity. 'They didn't have social media to deal with and the pressures that brings. It was time for me really to take a step down, re-assess, grow again, get better as a manager and come back. 'The club has been left in good hands. Steven is a really solid manager and he's had a great start. I wish them all the best.' Read more: How Bolton Wanderers fans marked squad this season. Cardiff dispensed with two managers last season – Erol Bulut and Omer Riza – with Aaron Ramsey put in caretaker charge for the last few weeks of the season. The former Wales international is also in the running for the job, although reports suggest experience is preferable.
