IAN Evatt feels clubs who are able to welcome fans back to football after lockdown will be at an advantage over tier 3 teams, like Wanderers, who cannot.

And in a wider context the Bolton boss fears the country is being divided by the tiers system.

Some football clubs will be able to re-open their turnstiles for the first time since March from December 2.

Tier 1 restrictions would allow up to 4,000 supporters to attend games, although no clubs currently fall into that category, while clubs in tier 2 areas will have attendances capped at 2,000.

But with Greater Manchester remaining under the toughest restrictions in tier 3, Wanderers' home games must continue to be played behind closed doors.

"In terms of fans I feel for the players a lot because they are so proud to play for Bolton Wanderers," Evatt said. 

"They love this club, they love playing for this club and they haven't been able to show what they can do in front of our support live and that's what they want.

"They want to feel that connection with the town and with the football club and the support and they haven't had a chance to do that yet."

Not only is it a source of huge frustration to Evatt and his players, the Bolton boss is mindful of the impact it is having on the country.

"Without getting into a big political debate I just cannot believe the way (it has gone),” said the Whites head coach, born in Coventry before spending a large part of his playing career in Lancashire with Blackpool. 

“For me, we're a country and we should all be together, regardless. It should be one for all and all for one.

“I'm so frustrated for the people of the north primarily because it does seem to me like there's as massive north-south divide, not just in football but in politics in general, and without me having a rant and a rave, how London is in tier 2 still and the whole of the north more or less is in tier 3 is absolutely astonishing.

"It's so frustrating. We are a nation and a nation should be together regardless. I just think this whole pandemic has created an even bigger north-south divide. Obviously we've got Andy Burnham who's now the king of the north...

"It's madness, it's crazy."

Under the current tier system, which is set to be reviewed fortnightly, Bolton's first game in front of opposition fans will be away to Cheltenham on December 15, followed by the Boxing Day trip to Carlisle United, with both Gloucestershire and Cumbria in tier 2, where up 2,000 supporters are permitted entry to grounds. Walsall, where Wanderers travel to on December 12, is in tier 3.

Asked if he felt tier 2 teams would be at an advantage, Evatt said: "I think so. I think there is an advantage there certainly having supporters that are trying to back your team and will them on, it can only help (them)."

But by the same token Evatt is eager to hear the noise of a crowd again.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing supporters back in the ground whether it's home or away. Even if we're going to get stick off 2,000 fans for 90 minutes at least we're getting something," he said.

"At the moment to create our own atmosphere is really difficult so we have to get used to playing in front of supporters again and hopefully that will give us an extra edge because we want that, we want supporters back."