WANDERERS will back Ian Evatt in the transfer market this month despite Saturday’s defeat against Crawley leaving the club closer to the bottom two than the top seven.

Swansea City left-back Declan John is expected to sign on loan this week as Evatt begins a rapid makeover of his squad during a 10-day break before the next League Two game at Exeter.

The Bolton boss is under pressure to turn around results after a run of three consecutive home defeats saw the club slump to 16th – just six points above the relegation zone.

A change of formation could be on the cards, and Evatt has pledged a serious shake-up in order to find promotion-worthy form in the New Year.

“There are lots of things that we can see are wrong and want to work on but we just haven’t had the chance because of the pandemic and the condensed nature of the fixtures at the moment – it has been play-recover, play-recover, play-recover,” he said.

“We have had video analysis but now we get a chance to work on the training pitch, show them exactly what we expect, what are our non-negotiables, and then we’ll move forwards.

“We are all angry and frustrated at the form we have been in – and me more than anyone. But I still say this league is there for the taking and we have got 25 games to get it together.

“We need to do it quickly and this 10-day window might well define our season.”

Evatt is ready to bring in Wales international John until the end of the season in an effort to re-balance his side and is mulling over a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation to spark a change in fortunes.

The line-up he picked on Saturday against Crawley was his 21st different permutation of players in 26 first team games this season, underlining the difficulty in finding a winning formula.

Wanderers have already discussed a contract with free agent midfielder Kieran Lee, want a physical striker and have also looked around for goalkeeping options in the winter window.

Evatt could also shift out a number of fringe players to give him more room for business and looks likely to send loanees Tom White and Billy Crellin back to their parent clubs.

John looks likely to be the only addition before the Exeter game, with the Bolton boss – now in overall charge of recruitment, following the exit of head of football operations Tobias Phoenix - keen to spend the available cash within the salary cap wisely.

“We are highlighting people we think can improve us,” he said. “We won’t rush because it might be one of those windows where the best ones become available late.

“We have got one deal over the line more-or-less, aside from dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s. it is all agreed.

“He will be due in on Wednesday and then we will try and add in and around that.”