Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town's rivals sack manager as ex-QPR man axed

Bolton Wanderers have made the decision to sack former Queens Park Rangers player Ian Evatt after four-and-a-half years in charge of the club.

The call has been made just hours after Charlton Athletic had won 2-1 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium in a League One meeting on Tuesday evening. Bolton Wanderers Chairman Sharon Brittan said: “Ian arrived at a challenging time for Bolton Wanderers Football Club and his dedication to rebuilding both on and off the pitch has been commendable. He instilled a renewed sense of professionalism and purpose, and we are grateful for his significant contributions during his four and a half years at the helm. He has been a pleasure to work with and I personally thank him for his hard work and passion for this Club. He has created a tremendous legacy and will always be remembered for the successes he has brought. We wish him nothing but success in the future. The Board are committed to finding the right candidate to lead Bolton Wanderers forward.”

Evatt added: “I’ve absolutely loved my time here at Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Working with Sharon and Nick (Luckock) has been a pleasure, and I’ve been superbly backed along the way by my team of staff and the players. There comes a point in football when a change needs to happen and the last thing I want is to damage what we have all built together. I believe the Club is still well placed to achieve its goals this season, and I want to give the Board and players the best chance of doing that. I am very grateful for everybody’s support and to be the manager of this wonderful football club has been the greatest honour of my career. To our fans, thank you for the support you have shown me and my staff. Together we have created some very special memories and I will always be a fan of this amazing football club.”

Evatt joined Bolton in the summer of 2020 after an impressive stint with Cumbrian side Barrow. He won the National League with the club, and with it earned promotion to the Football League. It was the first time the club had been in the EFL since 1972. Wanderers were in League Two when Evatt was appointed, as he earned promotion in the 2020-21 season. He also won the EFL Trophy in 2023.

Last season, Bolton lost 2-0 to Oxford United in the play-off final and sit three points outside the top six as things stand. Last night’s loss to Charlton saw the Addicks move within a point of Wanderers, who are one of only two top 13 sides to have a negative goal difference. Up next is a clash with Huddersfield Town.

Evatt reflects on final game as Bolton boss

Evatt insisted that his side’s performance against Charlton was one of the best they have produced this season. Joel Randall opened the scoring as the hosts took the lead on 55 minutes but two goals in the final 20 minutes from Lloyd Jones and Karoy Anderson snatched all three points for Charlton.

“I can’t pick faults with the way we played,” said Evatt. “We were back to our best for large parts. But we found a way to lose which has happened too often. It can’t obviously continue. The performance was better than most of the season, if not all of it. But we came out on the wrong side of the result. That is bitterly disappointing. I am immensely proud when we play like that of who we are as a team. We look at them (Charlton). They got the win but they were very direct, very simplistic. I am not sure I would want to watch that every week.”

Earlier in the day, Evatt had apologised for swearing as he made his way off the pitch at half-time in a 2-2 draw with Cambridge United. He said via the Bolton News: “First of all, I do apologise if any offence was taken. I was walking back down the tunnel, I didn’t stop to look at any one person or target anybody in particular, I was just so annoyed with what had happened in the first half, the football, and it all came out. It was pure frustration at what I’d seen on the pitch. I didn’t mean it to come across as aggressive towards anybody, especially the fans. It was me letting my emotions out and it wasn’t personal at all.”

Charlton back to winning ways

Charlton have now won four of their last six League One games as Tuesday’s victory boosted their hopes of a play-off spot. Nathan Jones’ side were beaten 4-2 by Rotherham United last weekend but the Athletic boss hailed his team for their response to going behind.

“We were miles off our levels last weekend,” said Jones. “This is one of the most difficult places to come and not many teams win here. They are a good side with a big budget, have been together for a long time and have got very good players.

“To come here on the back of that (defeat at Rotherham), go 1-0 down and to win the game showed massive character. We scored a wonderful first goal, got a bit lucky with the second but we went for the win. We made changes to go for the win. And we got it.”