CHARLTON Athletic boss Lee Bowyer claims the collapse of Ched Evans’ move to Wanderers left him high and dry too.

Wanderers were left bitterly disappointed when their attempts to loan the striker from Sheffield United failed because of paperwork, leaving him free to continue a loan spell at Fleetwood Town.

Bowyer watched Evans score the winner against his Charlton side on Saturday, revealing after the game that he had been poised to sign a Bolton player – believed to be Erhun Oztumer – until the move failed.

"We thought he (Evans) was gone to be honest,” Bowyer said. “Because Ched did not go to the club he was meant to go it meant we could not bring in this other player.

"Joey (Barton, Town boss) has done well to keep hold of him; he's a good striker, especially in this division.

"I don't know how he managed to keep him but he did and he hurt us on Saturday."

Fleetwood claim they did not get the mandatory 24-hour notice from Sheffield United to cancel Evans’ loan on Thursday, which meant they did not sign the 30-year-old’s release.

As a result, Evans – who was at the Whites Hotel waiting for the move to complete – returned to League One.