GILLINGHAM boss Steve Evans has called Wanderers “an outstanding side” ahead of this weekend’s League One clash.

The Gills sit 19th in the league table and enter the game on the back of a 1-0 win against Doncaster on Tuesday night thanks to Stuart O’Keefe’s goal.

Evans is looking forward to going up against his former side but is expecting a tough test at the UniBol.

“It will be very tough and the Bolton manager said they are the best team in the league when they played at Hillsborough a few weeks ago,” he told Kent Online.

“They have some top players and have spent some real good money and have absolutely fantastic owners.

“Ian has landed a real plum job there with some big investors backing the club.”

Evans got his first shot at professional football with Wanderers in the late seventies after being spotted by Ian Greaves in Glasgow.

While he never made a senior appearance for the Whites, the former Leeds United boss has fond memories of his time with the club and is delighted with the progress they have made in recent months.

“I never want what happened to Bolton Wanderers to happen again, it was rather sad and a shambles really. That was my take on it,” he added.

“They have solid owners now, there will be a big crowd there, it is a fantastic place to go and play but so was the old Burnden Park when I was a kid, when I started my career. Great days.

“They are a wonderful side and I have watched a re-run of the Wigan game, they lost 4-0, it could have been five each.

“The opportunities Wigan got, they took them. The opportunities in that game, the Bolton boys didn’t take but they are an outstanding side with lots of good players.

“I am just looking forward to going to Bolton Wanderers. Two years ago they might not have been here and if I get the opportunity to shake the hands of Sharon Brittan or the board I will certainly do that because it is a club that will always be close to my heart.”


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