IAN Evatt admits he would have second thoughts about inviting documentary cameras behind the scenes at Wanderers once again.
Former Wanderers boss Phil Parkinson is currently front and centre in a Disney Plus documentary about his efforts to revive Wrexham under the ownership of Hollywood A-listers Ryan Renyolds and Rob McElhenney.
Evatt has had some limited exposure in his time at Bolton, with a production company allowed limited brief access for a two-part programme which was aired on YouTube last year.
The Bolton boss says he has enjoyed watching the likes of Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola in Amazon’s All or Nothing.
“I’ve been watching a bit of Arsenal one,” he said. “I have seen most of those. I have watched the Pep one and I need to work on my drawings because Mikel looks a very good artistic drawer, with his pre-match stuff.
“But they are interesting things aren’t they? They are good insights and we have had a slight glimpse into ours, the little two-part episode."
Asked whether he would allow the documentary crews back into the UniBol, Evatt admits he would have some doubts.
“We have had this conversation,” he said. “I think it would be amazing for the fans to get a true insight into how it really it and how hard everyone works, not just the football department, but how the whole club functions. Neil (Hart) works extremely hard and his team behind the scenes and you get to know these people on a personal level.
“It’s hard because people portray how we are as people by how the team plays on a Saturday and also the snippets they get from you guys (the media) and sometimes people could think I’m not a very nice guy.”
Opposition supporters have certainly voiced their opinion on Evatt’s comments over the past two years – not least those of local club Wigan Athletic.
But Evatt laughed as he recalled a recent meeting with a Latics supporters whilst on his summer holiday.
“I’ll tell you a short story now,” he said, “I know the Wigan fans hate me, and that’s fine, I’m absolutely fine with it. My first day on holiday, there was a Wigan fan around the pool and he gave me shedloads of abuse on social media, which got fed back to me.
“I approached him and we ended up shaking hands and said ‘actually, you’re quite a nice guy’ and I said ‘well I actually am quite a nice guy!’ “I’m portrayed to be the big bad wolf but I’m actually okay, I think I’m a decent fella and I think you’ll (the media) vouch for me.
“To get a true insight it would be great for people to see that and then form their own opinions based on how we are on a daily basis and not based off interviews. But having said that, I would find it slightly strange, I’ve got to say.
“I think the players would as well because those four walls are really personal and private and what gets said in those four walls, I want to remain between myself and the players.
“Obviously, I will share with you (the media) some stuff that I think can be shared and should be shared, but I think it’s a really personal space and would it affect what I say? Maybe.”
Evatt wondered whether the presence of the cameras would affect his dialogue with players.
“Would Mikel do all those drawings and would he get the lightbulb out without the cameras there? I don’t know, maybe he would, maybe he wouldn’t, but for me it’s the chicken and the egg, isn’t it?
“I think it would be really great for people to get to know you on a personal level, but I also think that’s a really personal space and a personal thing and I wouldn’t want it to become a sideshow and detract from what we’re trying to do here.”
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