Second-longest serving EFL manager sacked days after apologising for foul language
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Ian Evatt has been sacked by League One club Bolton after four-and-a-half years in charge, talkSPORT understands.
The Bolton board held an emergency meeting following last night’s 2-1 defeat at home to a Charlton, which saw their winless run extend to three league matches.
Evatt was the second-longest serving manager in the EFL – behind only Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver.
The Englishman’s departure comes with Bolton ninth in the table and three points off the play-off places.
Evatt was recently forced to apologise to fans after a video emerged of him using foul language at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The Trotters were booed off the pitch at half-time during the 2-2 draw with Cambridge on Saturday and Evatt was heard saying ‘f*** off’ as he walked down the tunnel – with his side 2-1 down.
Speaking to the Bolton News on Tuesday, Evatt said: “"First of all, I do apologise if any offence was taken.
"I was walking back down the tunnel, I didn't stop to look at any one person or target anybody in particular, I was just so annoyed with what had happened in the first half, the football, and it all came out.
"It was pure frustration at what I'd seen on the pitch. I didn't mean it to come across as aggressive towards anybody, especially the fans. It was me letting my emotions out and it wasn't personal at all."
Bolton are yet to formally announced Evatt’s sacking.
The Trotters finished third in League One last season, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion by five points.
They were denied a return to the second-tier by a heartbreaking 2-0 defeat to Oxford United in the play-off final.
Evatt’s men have been unable to replicate last season’s form, suffering ten defeats, which is already more than the entire 2023/24 campaign.
Speaking after the 2-1 defeat to Charlton, which saw the Addicks come from behind with two goals in the final 15 minutes, Evatt insisted his side was improving.
"The way that we played tonight deserved a lot more," he said. "I think for most of the game, if not all the game, the fans enjoyed what they’ve seen. There’s no hint of the negativity that we’ve had in recent weeks and that’s down to the way that we performed.
"If we’d have done that more consistently, we certainly wouldn’t be where we are now. That’s what hurts really, that given how well we’ve played, we’ve still managed to lose."
Evatt took charge of Bolton in July 2020 and at the start of his reign, the Trotters hit their lowest point in history, falling to 21st in League Two and at risk of falling out of the EFL.
However, the former Barrow boss oversaw a stunning turnaround and guided Bolton to automatic promotion to League One that very same season.
After a ninth-place finish in the 2021/22 campaign, Bolton won the EFL Trophy and reached the play-offs in 2023, only to be beaten by Barnsley in the semi-finals.
More play-off heartache in 2024 meant Bolton’s eight-year wait for a Championship return continued.
The former Premier League side are still recovering from a financial crisis which brought their very existence into question.
Bolton went into administration in May 2019 and incurred a 12-point penalty – with the club forced to cancel matches amid doubts whether they could field a competitive team.
Infamous owner Ken Anderson finally sold the club to Football Ventures (Whites) Limited in August 2019.
Evatt was given shares in the company in 2023, technically making him a minority owner of the club who just sacked him.
