WANDERERS will shortly be interviewing candidates for their new chief scout, says Ian Evatt.

After placing an advert in the football press looking for someone to anchor their future recruitment plans, a shortlist of names has now been drawn up from a crowded field of applicants.

Evatt hopes the post will be filled by the end of next month so that plans can be drawn up for the summer transfer window.

Until then, the Bolton boss is prepared to 'go it alone' and bring in the final few players in January from his own personal shortlist.

“The board have been magnificent in terms of their support, I must say," he added.

"My staff, Peter (Atherton) my assistant, Lewis (Duckmanton) my analyst, work round the clock looking at players, analysing the opposition, our own team, potential targets. “It isn’t ideal that I am having to do everything at the moment but I’d rather it be that way than any other right now.

“I would rather be in control of my own decisions in this window and moving forwards.

“We need a chief scout, someone who can help identify talent and targets, then have a structure underneath them where we are identifying the best talent for the best price, giving the club a better opportunity to get them in advance.

“We have got no real structure at the moment, no database, and that all needs to happen quite quickly." Applications for the chief scout role closed on Friday and interviews will be organised in the coming weeks.

“We have had lots of applicants and myself, Simon Marland and Andrew Gartside are sifting through them to come up with a shortlist," Evatt added. "That will then develop into one or two – so we’ll meet them or Zoom call them so it’s Covid safe, and then make a decision."

Wanderers have not had a chief scout since Tim Breacker left the club in early 2019 with the club then embroiled in serious financial problems under previous ownership.