Ian Evatt defends himself from sack calls and seeing Bolton fans sarcastically celebrate a Rotherham goal in defeat on Saturday.
A few Bolton fans had been doing a “let’s pretend we scored a goal”, but when the Millers netted their third goal, in front of the away end, they visiting fans were in the mood to celebrate it, already given up on the game.
A banner which read ‘Evatt Out!’ as well as plenty of boos and jeers come the final whistle. Ian Evatt took aim at his players, saying they should “look in the mirror” after a fourth defeat in seven League One games. You can read more on that HERE.
The result leaves Bolton sitting 10th in League One with 37 points from 24 games played, and 4 points from the playoff places, dropping further down the table.
Bolton fans are so disgruntled with manager Ian Evatt, they actually celebrated when Rotherham scored against them…
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) January 12, 2025
“Changing me isn’t going to help.”
Ian Evatt after Bolton’s defeat against Rotherham 😳#bwfc
pic.twitter.com/3isaOkPJTk— The Real EFL (@RealEFLSocial) January 11, 2025
We did a few “let’s pretend we scored a goal”, then when a goal went in in front of us we were in the mood to celebrate it. We’d already given up on the game
— Elliot (@bwfc_elliot) January 12, 2025
He said, when put to him by The Bolton News if he can ‘win the battle’ and meet targets set by the club at the start of the season: “The minute I don’t think I can win it, I’ll walk away.
“That is how I feel. I am a proud man.
“I am not deluded. And delusion is rife in football.
“I am not delusional and the minute I don’t think I can get any more out of these players then I will have that conversation with the board. They know that and I know that.
“I am taking responsibility – when have you ever not seen me take responsibility?.
“I am one man who stands in the technical area and takes it all and takes responsibility. I am the first person who takes it for myself, my team selection and for everything else.
“But if anyone thinks this is just me, they are wrong. It isn’t just me. This is a collective thing and collectively we need to do better and get better. And until everyone starts taking responsibility and not just me, then we will be OK.”
Ian Evatt insists he can still win the battle at Wanderers.https://t.co/YMJwkLQ7Oo #bwfc
— Marc Iles (@MarcIles) January 13, 2025
On anger from fans: “Absolutely it is personal, and I take it personally. I should. I am not saying it is right or wrong, I am saying I do take it personally. But let me tell you, when the fans are singing that the football is X, Y and Z, and this and that, it isn’t me playing the football, the players should take that personally as well. And this is what I am saying about taking responsibility as a collective, it is not OK, we need to be better than that and the only way we will be better is if the truth is told.
“It is no good me coming out here and supporting all the time, I have been there and done that, we are on the same cycle all the time and they need to hear it, publicly.
“If everyone thinks it is just me, they are wrong, it is not. It is everybody and everything.
“All I hear is excuses and not one reason. The excuse is that it’s the fans this, or negativity this, manager this – all I hear is excuses, there are no reasons. There is no way that I have set my team up to go and play like that, and I haven’t for four-and-a-half years, I haven’t. This isn’t me taking over as a manager this season and just delivering this, I have been here for four-and-a-half years, everyone has seen what I can deliver. Make of that what you will.
“It is not just about me. It is not just my fault, my problems. Yes, I will take responsibility, of course, but it is about time that these lot hear the truth and they need to hear the truth.”
Ian Evatt fumes at his players as Bolton fans chant ‘Evatt Out!’ after 3-1 defeat to Rotherham
Twitter users gave their reaction as Ian Evatt defends himself from sack calls after Bolton fans sarcastically celebrate Rotherham scoring their third goal…
@BwfcFans: The battle is lost, just delaying at this point.
@WandererSmurf: He’s done & the board are just delaying the inevitable by not acting now. Ironically we will probably win the next two games, all will be positive within the club, then we will be smacked again by Charlton &/or Huddersfield. And so it goes on.
@Novaish73: If he had left in the summer he would likely have been linked with many championship jobs. While his loyalty is commendable, by staying beyond a point of no return he has done no one any favours. It’s about choosing the right time to move on in any job.
@Chaddy_58: How can he win a battle he’s already lost 🤔
@krisconvery: He lost the battle in October. Since then all he’s done is progressively lose more & more of the fanbase. The longer he stays, the less & less worthwhile this season is – for those of us who’ll be here long after he’s gone.
@bwfc454: Not a chance he will walk away he wants the pay off it’s so obvious & the club don’t want to pay it, it’s absolutely embarrassing
@drac_uk: He still can’t bring himself to accept this is on him. There’s is no way professionals would choose to play football that way. Sideways and backwards. It’s rubbish and every other team know it
@GarethHulme: He really can’t until he changes the way he sets the team up
@bolton2021: Can’t win a battle if it’s already lost
@bradt_bwfc: Let’s get them chants going Saturday and force him out
@wallywalshaw14: Sorry, but how can he not be responsible for how the team plays? I’m sure he feels responsible for it if we go and win 4-0? If he is to stay, the best thing he can do is step away from media for a bit as he is worsening his relationship with the fans with every interview #bwfc
@cwarb1: Tell you what… if the team had half as much stubbornness and self belief as he does that he thinks this situation can be rectified we’d be top of the league by a mile 🤣😂
@PD_1972: There is a lot of delusion in football, yep, unfortunately most of it comes out of our managers mouth. It’s beyond belief he’s still here and as per usual, the next fixture has fell kindly for him! Sharon & the board need to act now, while we’re still in touch.
@howfenbwfc: Every opponent knows how to play against us and he changes nothing?How is that not delusional or accepting responsibility? Reasons, CBs are not good enough to play out, WBs are effectively wingers leaving space down the wings, CBs spread to cover. Leaving space through the middle
@charliefj98: Why is he the one calling the shots? The decision should be taken out of his hands. Sharon’s statement of not being afraid to make difficult decisions turning out to be more and more bullshit every week. #bwfc
@Nwalker237: The players aren’t playing for you and the fans don’t want you here do the decent thing and walk 👍
@iainhadcroft: I would have more sympathy if his actions matched his words. If the players were off the pace (they were), why not sub 2/3 at half time or why not use all his subs. Why keep picking the same players & formation that fails. Definition of madness.
@MarcBoatwright: Hahaha he literally admitted there’s nothing he can do to change the players mentality and get the best out of them 2 days ago. Probably a pretty good definition of delusional is saying he now still believes he’s the right man for the job. His ego won’t let him leave
@williamBWFCfan: Get walking then, we aren’t going up this season.
@07788qr: Bore off. Board won’t get rid (for whatever reason) and he won’t leave of his own accord, who would? Going to get very negative and very toxic. A blind man can see we need change, management as well as tactics. Is he that thick as to persist with this Poundland Pep shit at Lg1?
@wez_glennon: What a way to start the week 🙃 Ego Evatt and Stubborn Sharon strike again #bwfc
@Radixlecti1: He sounds like a person with a very fragile mentality.
@bwfc_85: He’s a living, breathing contradiction. If this isn’t how he sets the team up to play, then the players are ignoring orders and he’s lost the dressing room. Says he takes responsibility then says it’s a collective failure in the same friggin’ breath. I give up.

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