Recently promoted Barrow have, unfortunately for them, had to announce the departure of manager Ian Evatt as he joins newly relegated Bolton.
The 38-year-old, who guided the Cumbrian side to League Two as National League champions, has signed a deal until the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Evatt’s departing club said: Today Barrow AFC signed an agreement with Bolton Wanderers, releasing Ian Evatt from his First Team manager role with us.
? We are delighted to announce the appointment of ??? ????? as Head Coach of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
Read more ?? https://t.co/E29snV82W5#BWFC ?? pic.twitter.com/Py47N7BHry
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) July 1, 2020
We would like to thank the Bolton representatives for the professional manner in which they undertook the negotiations and their respect for the compensation clause within Ian’s agreement. Once Ian had expressed last Friday his desire to leave Barrow AFC we felt it only fair to honour our agreement with him.
Chairman Paul Hornby commented: ‘It’s always disappointing when someone decides to move on especially when they’ve had such a positive impact. Ian did a wonderful job over the time he was here and he leaves us with a blueprint and identity of how we want our team to play and a great group of players. We shouldn’t let his departure distract from a fantastic season and the massive opportunity promotion creates for this club going forward.’
We are very confident we can recruit a new management team that can take us to the next level also playing attractive, possession based football. We wish Ian all the best in his future career and look forward to seeing him again next season.
Ian joined us over 2 years ago and in that time we have seen a transformation on the pitch. From a side which had just avoided relegation, he implemented a possession based footballing philosophy which culminated in us winning the league.
As part of Ian’s exit the deal also sees assistant manager Peter Atherton and first team analyst Lewis Duckmanton leave the club too.
Finally we would also like to confirm that included in the agreement is a 2 year embargo that means Bolton cannot approach any Barrow players under contract.
The search for Ian’s successor has already begun and we’ll be keeping the fans updated on how that process develops.
? The scarf photo you’ve all been waiting for…
⚪️ ??? ????? is our man. ? pic.twitter.com/qME27wxKIT
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) July 1, 2020
Upon completing his move to Wanderers, Evatt said: ”Bolton Wanderers is a fantastic football club with an incredible history and fanbase and this is a really exciting opportunity for us all.
“Hopefully I can bring a brand and an identity that people will enjoy watching – attacking and scoring goals is what we all want to see.
“We want to be challenging and competing for promotion at the top of the division and to see a packed University of Bolton Stadium.
“The community and town is also very important to me. We will get out there and engage with them and make them proud of Bolton Wanderers.”
Head of Football Operations, Tobias Phoenix added: ‘We are delighted to welcome Ian to Bolton Wanderers Football Club and we are over the moon to get our man.
“We had a very clear idea of how we wanted to shape the future of this fantastic football club on and off the grass and Ian epitomises everything we wanted from a Head Coach.
“We are all excited to get to work in preparation for the new season.”
Chairman of Bolton Wanderers, Sharon Brittan, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to bring Ian on board. I am certain that his style of football will keep us all entertained and he is very enthusiastic about his opportunity to represent the Club in the town and community.
”We have followed a thorough process in identifying Ian as the right person to take us forward on the next stage of our journey and can’t wait for it to get started.”
Fans reacted as Barrow announce the departure of their manager as he joins Bolton…
— Theo (@Thogden) July 1, 2020
YESSSS GET IN pic.twitter.com/ToaC4VP4wa
— nathan (@BWFCNathan) July 1, 2020
— Lion of Vienna Suite (@LionOfViennaSte) July 1, 2020
— Reece Jones (@reecejones_3) July 1, 2020
Wigan going bust, Senior new deal and Evatt announced.
What a Wednesday
— Joe (@JoeRamsden93) July 1, 2020
— James Jarvis (@Jarvisan247) July 1, 2020
“Barrow AFC would like to announce a HALF PRICE SALE on all Ian Evatt Champions posters”
— Stuart Akister (@StuartAkister) July 1, 2020
Cheers for what you did Evatt, hope you can make it work at Bolton, onwards and upwards, we got the blueprint.
— Cam (@Cam_BAFC95) July 1, 2020
Imagine going from Ian Evatt to him. It’d be like shagging Shakira to Gemma Collins ???
— Christopher Theobald (@Chrisjctheo99) July 1, 2020
Not ideal but it’s not as bad as some may think it to be. The compensation fee will be put to great use. We will be okay.
— Taylor (@TaylorBAFC) July 1, 2020
Not sure why there’s so much negativity around this. As a Barrow fan it’s obviously dissaponting he’s been fantastic but be fair, Bolton are where they are but there a big club and will rise again. I wish him well (just not against us) cheers fella
— Neal Tyson (@NealTyson5) July 1, 2020
Disappointed he didnt give us at least one season in football league ?
— Darren Pearson (@dazpeo) July 1, 2020
All The Best Evo and good luck on your new conquest. Thanks for the memories ?
— Bookies Enemy No1 (@BookiesEnemyNo1) July 1, 2020
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