20-05-2025
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.
