Bolton Wanderers have sacked manager Ian Evatt.
The 43-year-old’s exit has yet to be confirmed officially, but the Bolton News reports there was an emergency board meeting called after last night’s 2-1 home defeat to Charlton Athletic.
The former Premier League club did not air any of Evatt’s post-match interview and while he spoke to local reporters, discussions with board members including chairman Sharon Brittan brought about an end to his time with the club.
He was the fifth longest serving manager in the football league, after four years and 204 days at the club, overseeing 261 matches. The former Blackpool defender led Bolton out of League Two, won the Papa Johns Trophy at Wembley in 2023 and to two consecutive play-off campaigns, the last of which ended in an agonising defeat in the final to Oxford United.
But he has come under increasing pressure with his expensively-assembled squad ninth in the table and earlier this month apologised for shouting "f*** off" towards home supporters as he headed down the tunnel during a 2-2 draw with Cambridge United, when jeers rang out with his side 2-1 down at the time.
Bolton have spent big on signings such as Szabi Schon, John McAtee, Jordi Osei-Tutu, Klaidi Lolos and Joel Randall, yet the Whites have spent only a few weeks in the top six all season. Wanderers had won just three of their last nine games in the league.
Fans have voted with their feet, with some choosing to stay away from the Toughsheet Community Stadium, while he has been barracked by supporters and "Evatt Out" banners seen at home games and in away ends.
In September the manager was banned for three games by the Football Association for "improper and/or violent conduct" after a heated row with Shrewsbury Town captain Morgan Feeney.
And he was forced to apologise to fans after his X-rated outburst on his way off the pitch at half time during the draw versus Cambridge United, which led to more criticism of his reign.
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