THE wait for a new manager at Bolton Wanderers appears to be over.
Sources close to Ian Evatt claimed an agreement on compensation had been reached last night with Barrow which would see the 38-year-old appointed as Keith Hill’s successor at the University of Bolton Stadium.
No official comment has been made by either club but it is understood that assistant manager Peter Atherton will be part of the compensation package, ending rumours that he was set to stay at Holker Street as Evatt’s replacement.
Analyst, Lewis Duckmanton, and physio, Callum Waters, both moved from Chesterfield to Barrow with Evatt when he took charge in June 2018 are also mooted to be a part of the deal.
Wanderers announced on June 12 that they would not be renewing the contracts of Keith Hill or his assistant David Flitcroft and quickly made the former Blackpool defender their number one target.
Interviews were held with a handful of other applicants, including Under-23s coach David Lee, but the pursuit of Evatt has been a relentless one, and now looks like it will bear fruit.
it was not until yesterday that Bolton were officially given the all-clear to discuss personal terms and barring any unforeseen issues an official announcement is expected quickly.
Former Barrow player Jason Walker, now with Lancaster City, is not surprised to see Evatt being courted by Wanderers after taking the Bluebirds back into the Football League for the first time in 48 years.
“It is such a tough league to get out of and they have done it with a lot of style,” the veteran striker told the Non-League Paper.
“You have a manager who wants to play football the right way. In my opinion there is only one way he is going and that is up.
“Whether that is with Barrow, and no disrespect to them, he is doing such a good job other clubs will be looking at him.
“To play for a manager who has ambition as well is what I would personally want as a player. The other attraction of course is playing in the Football League.”
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