IAN Evatt says he has already had phone calls about players he released this summer – and is only too pleased to give glowing references.

Wanderers announced their retained list last month with the likes of Shaun Miller, Arthur Gnahoua, Jak Hickman and Jamie Mascoll leaving the club.

Evatt reckons their time at the UniBol, along with adding a promotion from League Two to their CV, will make the job of getting a club much easier in the next few weeks.

And he says he has already had enquiries from managers eager to know more about the players he will not be taking with him to League One.

“Releasing players like Arthur (Gnahoua) were tough decisions,” he told The Bolton News.

“Shaun (Miller) was probably the toughest one of all.

“They had some great moments in a Bolton shirt and when we signed those type of players, they were lost in football, really.

“Speaking specifically about those two, they didn’t have clubs, it was after the transfer window had closed, their career was on the decline.

“One thing we have done for them is increase their stock and their value.

“I have had many phone calls about them over the past couple of weeks asking how they have trained, how they played, what they did for us on and off the pitch, and they will get glowing references.

“They won’t struggle for a club like they did last summer, which is great for them.”

None of the players released by Wanderers have yet confirmed a new club, although midfielder Sonny Graham has turned out for local grassroots club Trimpell, near his Morecambe home.

With Declan John the latest to put pen to paper with Wanderers after his loan spell, signing a three-year deal, Evatt pledged this week that there would be “plenty more” new additions on their way.

Season tickets continue to sell well, and fans were treated yesterday the premiere of a club documentary which has been kept a top secret over the course of the campaign.

“I can’t wait, I genuinely can’t wait,” Evatt said of the season to come.

“I am so excited and so proud of what I’m seeing just around this football club at the moment, on and off the pitch.

“The signings and recruitment is going well, the season ticket sales is phenomenal, the anticipation and excitement around the town is fantastic and the club feels like it is alive again and that’s just great for everybody.”