Should I(E) stay or should I(E) go?

[Worthy4England]

Nixon hinting there's still a decision to be made around the manager - although I suspect he's as in the dark as a miner wihout a Davy lamp.

I honestly think if Evatt was intending to leave he’d have had to have done so by now. I suppose the only caveat could be if he’s expecting to go to another job and everyone is just waiting for that to go through.

But can’t really imagine a capable board giving him so long as this to decide.

It's still pretty quiet. Do they get 6 weeks, like the kids at summer?

If Evatt was going though he’d have gone by now surely?

I'd have thought so, if the Board were going to call it but who knows. It's over a fortnight now, which if memory serves is maybe the longest we've heard nowt from the manager...

[Bertie Wooster]

Nixon hinting there's still a decision to be made around the manager - although I suspect he's as in the dark as a miner wihout a Davy lamp.

This has cheered me up a bit on a mundane Monday afternoon.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles has to work with what he has - it’s the worst time of year for him to be fair! Hence why we only got some of the post match interviews in drive and drabs.

Aye. And we're lucky to get what we do.

I remember working a summer job at Eagley Mills during the Rioch era. Every lunchtime me and my mate would walk up the (unfairly massive) hill to the paper shop to see if the first edition of the BEN (as was) had anything on the back page. More days than not, it didn't... unless you liked cricket.

Actually, just before that, cricket used to be the start of the pre-season. As social outreach, Neal used to have his team play at some local club - Astley Bridge or summat - and you'd see all your favourites for the first time in two long months.

[Harry Genshaw]

Much as I distrust Nixon, I suppose it's highly likely he knows and chats with several agents. Potentially, agents will know if there's some uncertainty around our management situation if they're getting little feedback from the club when pushing their clients? I've no idea if this is how it works but it's a theory

[GhostoftheBok]

Much as I distrust Nixon, I suppose it's highly likely he knows and chats with several agents. Potentially, agents will know if there's some uncertainty around our management situation if they're getting little feedback from the club when pushing their clients? I've no idea if this is how it works but it's a theory

If a player is available then clubs will know.

Personally I think Nixon is guessing again.

We have Santos on 12 months and there's talk around Evatt. "A player might go" in our situation is a bit like saying "Looks like rain" up here on the Pennines.

We have to decide whether to meet Santos' contract demands or sell him. That's been true ever since he didn't sign up when all the others did. Not getting any less pressing with time.

[BWFC_Insane]

Much as I distrust Nixon, I suppose it's highly likely he knows and chats with several agents. Potentially, agents will know if there's some uncertainty around our management situation if they're getting little feedback from the club when pushing their clients? I've no idea if this is how it works but it's a theory

If a player is available then clubs will know.

Personally I think Nixon is guessing again.

We have Santos on 12 months and there's talk around Evatt. "A player might go" in our situation is a bit like saying "Looks like rain" up here on the Pennines.

We have to decide whether to meet Santos' contract demands or sell him. That's been true ever since he didn't sign up when all the others did. Not getting any less pressing with time.

He’s not saying anything really so definitely just speculating.

[Mar]

Much as I distrust Nixon, I suppose it's highly likely he knows and chats with several agents. Potentially, agents will know if there's some uncertainty around our management situation if they're getting little feedback from the club when pushing their clients? I've no idea if this is how it works but it's a theory

If a player is available then clubs will know.

Personally I think Nixon is guessing again.

We have Santos on 12 months and there's talk around Evatt. "A player might go" in our situation is a bit like saying "Looks like rain" up here on the Pennines.

We have to decide whether to meet Santos' contract demands or sell him. That's been true ever since he didn't sign up when all the others did. Not getting any less pressing with time.

He’s not saying anything really so definitely just speculating.

It wouldn't surprise me if we would've had a bid in for Santos in last years preseason when he was looking the part against Everton and there was Turkish speculation around.

Would make sense for Santos to want to cash in on any potential wage increases he's possibly got coming his way. He's not getting any younger and he could do with the money for stabilising his future. I'd imagine his first contract with us not being great and any improvements on that not being the greatest.

Can't imagine he's improved on any potential speculation given the season just gone. So there may be an air of frustration kicking in on his part affecting his performances and decision making regarding his future.

[GhostoftheBok]

All the lads with expiring deals will have been talking to the club and their agents for some time about what they do this summer.

Santos, Jones, Iredale, Cogley and Sheehan are all getting to that stage where if we renew them it commits us to them and offers no resale potential. It also means they will miss their final chance to be a valuable free agent who can command a decent cash signing bonus.

That makes renewal talks tricky, as they need to decide if stability is worth more than the shot at a payday. You'd think Iredale and Sheehan would be in the "stability" camp - given recent injury issues. Santos, as Mar said, may have been hoping for a much better income via transfer or new deal a division up. Cogley and Jones may feel they can get good money as free agents - one being an international now and the other getting in the TotY. Cogley especially, having come in to play 2nd choice from League Two, may be due a decent upgrade.

Randell is maybe an easier one now, as we can extend his deal a bit and he can still get on a free before he's over 30.

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s a strange situation. I didn’t expect or want the club to say anything after the final. But now we are more than two weeks on and I’d have expected some sort of statement of intent by now from someone.

I suspect this is a symptom of having already sold the season tickets. In old times where you needed to flog STs over the summer the club would be having to build some interest.

Now I guess they don’t.

[boltonboris]

It’s a strange situation. I didn’t expect or want the club to say anything after the final. But now we are more than two weeks on and I’d have expected some sort of statement of intent by now from someone.

Statement on what?

Perhaps the club don't feel the need to comment on idle speculation. That has been the case for a while now. We have a manager. We're back in work.

[BWFC_Insane]

It’s a strange situation. I didn’t expect or want the club to say anything after the final. But now we are more than two weeks on and I’d have expected some sort of statement of intent by now from someone.

Statement on what?

Perhaps the club don't feel the need to comment on idle speculation. That has been the case for a while now. We have a manager. We're back in work.

Not on speculation, there is basically no speculation to even comment on, but a ‘we are going to give it a real go next season’ type of rallying call.

But like I say I guess selling STs already means they don’t need to do that. If STs had only gone on sale post the final it would be very different I suspect.

[Worthy4England]

It’s a strange situation. I didn’t expect or want the club to say anything after the final. But now we are more than two weeks on and I’d have expected some sort of statement of intent by now from someone.

Statement on what?

Perhaps the club don't feel the need to comment on idle speculation. That has been the case for a while now. We have a manager. We're back in work.

That's the one...Hey look, we're all back and preparing for the new season...

[GhostoftheBok]

Ian stays. He will be financially backed.

That's that then.

[officer_dibble]

Agreed. Good news, we can get on with it now. Be interesting to see what the financial backing translates into. There is a point in the article about us having the fifth largest budget last season. What do we need to be the largest budget this season and is it achievable? More money to compete with this year.

[BWFC_Insane]

Not convinced in the slightest. We will see what happens.

A bigger budget so more pressure. Sounds like last season not going up was a big blow so this season the pressure is quadrupled.

[GhostoftheBok]

What do we need to be the largest budget this season and is it achievable?

No, it's not achievable.

Birmingham have come down with a huge playing budget and are unlikely to look to move on that this summer.

We could significantly increase our playing budget and still not have the biggest budget compared to last season, never mind this.

However, that isn't necessarily important. What matters is the freedom to use the budget we have compared to rivals. Rotherham have quite a lot of freedom, which is a concern. Birmingham have a lot more of their money tied up in existing contracts - as do Huddersfield. I'd expect all three of those clubs to be extremely competitive, but Evans will probably feel he can do more to make the team "his own."

If we can bring in a few players who will genuinely impact the first team over the season then that's what will matter most, rather than matching the total spend of other clubs.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles written interview: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... g-manager/

Pete Oliver video interview: https://www.bwfc.co.uk/video/player/0_jbn74et9

[irie Cee Bee]

My reading, the Board is very disappointed about the failure to go up, thought long and hard about it, and has given Evatt a few months to prove himself worthy. They will back him in the transfer window to the extent they can, then its up to him to prove himself before Christmas that he is the right man to take us up.

[GhostoftheBok]

My reading, the Board is very disappointed about the failure to go up, thought long and hard about it, and has given Evatt a few months to prove himself worthy. They will back him in the transfer window to the extent they can, then its up to him to prove himself before Christmas that he is the right man to take us up.

What gave you that impression? It doesn't seem to comport with what she said.

[Worthy4England]

Think that was needed. Agree with ICB that Sharon said a few times she was disappointed not to be in the Champo by now. (Not sure that extrapolates to a contemplated sacking.)

It would be mighty difficult to make a similar speech in 12 months and retain much/any credibility.