The ianevattable sacking

[BWFC_Insane]

Won't stop me going - not sure anything ever could. But each to their own.

Agree with all of that. If people don't want to give their time and money that's completely understandable.

I can't not care, I can't not watch, I can't not comment. But I will admit there's one or two away games I might have made more effort to get to. We all lose faith in different ways.

It’s a personal feeling. Certainly not trying to convince anyone else. We all feel how we do. Not something we can control.

[brommers95]

Fair enough, at least she’s come out and said something. I think she’s wrong to stick by him but I respect her decision to do so.

It has always struck me as a slightly odd marriage though - Brittan comes across as someone who is morally upstanding, all about doing business the right way, caring about people etc. Whereas Evatt’s character has always seemed questionable to me at best with his ‘off the field issues’ shall we say, his poor disciplinary record, ill-advised comments to the media and fairly consistent falling-outs with players. He must be a saint to her in-person.

[DJBlu]

Isn't this just a wordy vote of confidence?

Got to be careful what we ask for these days as we might not like what is given. Oh well can't wait for the January transfer window.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

It has always struck me as a slightly odd marriage though - Brittan comes across as someone who is morally upstanding, all about doing business the right way, caring about people etc. Whereas Evatt’s character has always seemed questionable to me at best with his ‘off the field issues’ shall we say, his poor disciplinary record, ill-advised comments to the media and fairly consistent falling-outs with players. He must be a saint to her in-person.

Indeed - there's something of a gender-reversed Pygmalion / My Fair Lady vibe to their relationship.

[officer_dibble]

Isn't this just a wordy vote of confidence?

Got to be careful what we ask for these days as we might not like what is given. Oh well can't wait for the January transfer window.

Transfer window is where we will see the real vote of confidence. I really wouldn’t let him spend more money…

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Oh well can't wait for the January transfer window.

Transfer window is where we will see the real vote of confidence. I really wouldn’t let him spend more money…

...which might mean he sells Morley to Wycombe for half a mill or something.

Of course, in his first season we didn't have much money to play with (still under embargo!) but we hired well. SInce then we've also borrowed some brilliant young players. It's not impossible that the right sort of trading could restart the engines, as it has in previous Januaries. But as to whether you're confident about that, your mileage may vary.

[boltonboris]

Fine. Can’t and won’t support this. No longer Bolton wanderers. If Sharon wants Ian Evatt FC she’s got it. Destroying Bolton wanderers in the process.

Well done. I’ve zero interest and won’t be bothering to go or follow it. I know a lot of others in the same boat.

I mean you did say you wanted her to release a statement as she'd been too quiet about the whole situation...

I don’t think I did. But regardless it’s disenfranchised me. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe all the supporters who it disenfranchises shouldn’t be fans.

That’s the end result. I’m sad more than anything else. Not surprised but sad. On the plus side Saturdays can be filled with other stuff that I’ve been enjoying more and might not disappoint as much.

Whilst we need all the fans we can get, it's probably a good decision for your own mental health to switch off from Bolton for a while and fill that time with something you enjoy mate - Hopefully you'll be back sooner rather than later

[nicholaldo]

Isn't this just a wordy vote of confidence?

Got to be careful what we ask for these days as we might not like what is given. Oh well can't wait for the January transfer window.

It reads to me as more of a full-throated backing rather than a dread vote of confidence.

I posted on Sunday that Evatt's comments in his post-match interview didn't hint he was under any significant* pressure from within, and Sharon's words only make me more confident that's the case.

*significant meaning he's at risk of being potted within the next few matches

[Worthy4England]

I'm not stunned. But if you're surrounded with the mantra "this is the way to build a Club, long term." And that's the journey she's backed, then it's going to be a leap to "unback it."

Bit like when we've had conversations about available transfer targets or should we 442 and someone pipes up "they won't fit what Evatt's trying to do, or our formation or how we want to play"...

Couple of thoughts. If she gets to the point of change direction because this one isn't getting us up, then for me she couldn't just jettison the Manager, she'd have to flirt the tippy-tappy advisors/DOF too - if they're all aligned on thinking (which they've said they are), they're all part of the problem. Otherwise the change would be fairly superficial, as that's one of the "benefits" of a DOF.

Acknowledging that in most upward flights there are the odd downturns, I'm mystified with the 'improvement' we've seen since her last Christmas message. We turned the year at 2.08 ppg. We then limped at 1.69 over the remainder. We're at 1.66 this season, to give a total for the year of P41. Points 69. W19, D12, L10. F70 A56. PPG 1.68. So 77 over a season. That gets P/Os in half the last 4 seasons...

I'm curious about what improvements she's seeing because it's not much better than the year we went up.

[TANGODANCER]

For those who can't access Bolton News..:

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ian-evatt/

[Worthy4England]

Fine. Can’t and won’t support this. No longer Bolton wanderers. If Sharon wants Ian Evatt FC she’s got it. Destroying Bolton wanderers in the process.

Well done. I’ve zero interest and won’t be bothering to go or follow it. I know a lot of others in the same boat.

I mean you did say you wanted her to release a statement as she'd been too quiet about the whole situation...

I don’t think I did. But regardless it’s disenfranchised me. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe all the supporters who it disenfranchises shouldn’t be fans.

That’s the end result. I’m sad more than anything else. Not surprised but sad. On the plus side Saturdays can be filled with other stuff that I’ve been enjoying more and might not disappoint as much.

Whilst we need all the fans we can get, it's probably a good decision for your own mental health to switch off from Bolton for a while and fill that time with something you enjoy mate - Hopefully you'll be back sooner rather than later

Just wait till he gets dragged round shopping, told to get that fcking tree up and the outside lights...

[TonyDomingos]

"I think both loyalty and continuity bring long-term success and that is our model which I do believe is different from others."

He's here for life.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I’m sad more than anything else. Not surprised but sad. On the plus side Saturdays can be filled with other stuff that I’ve been enjoying more and might not disappoint as much.

Whilst we need all the fans we can get, it's probably a good decision for your own mental health to switch off from Bolton for a while and fill that time with something you enjoy mate - Hopefully you'll be back sooner rather than later

+1. Take a break if you need, mate, but most of all take care. As Boris says, I hope you're back sooner than later - because you feel better and so do all Bolton fans.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

If she gets to the point of change direction because this one isn't getting us up, then for me she couldn't just jettison the Manager, she'd have to flirt the tippy-tappy advisors/DOF too - if they're all aligned on thinking (which they've said they are), they're all part of the problem. Otherwise the change would be fairly superficial, as that's one of the "benefits" of a DOF.

Not sure on this.

Markham's not a DoF in the traditional sense of being 'over the gaffer'. Our last DoF was Phoenix, who we potted and changed Evatt's title from Coach to Manager.

Markham's own LinkedIn says he was hired in Feb 2021 as Technical Performance Director and then in July 2023 his title changed to Sporting Director. Now, that's a similar title to DoF, and were someone to be brought in out of nowhere to "work with" (ie sit above) an existing manager or coach as Sporting Director, I would see that as effectively demoting the manager.

However, I'm pretty much 100% confident that in summer 2023, after we'd won a cup at Wembley and reached the playoffs, Markham wasn't getting promoted over Evatt - it was just a cosmetic title-change, possibly related to boosting the sports-science staff. Indeed, not long afterwards we hired Paul 'Not That One' Walsh as Head of Sports Science, and the title 'Technical Performance Director' does sound a little sports-sciencey. He probably just took advantage of the then-rising tide to change his title.

Anyways. I understand the idea that if Evatt goes they should all go, but there's a definite baby/bathwater possibility here. I don't think the players we've hired are necessarily bad; I suspect we've not necessarily hired the right types, and I think I know whose fault that might be. I very much doubt that Evatt said "get me a muscular 6 and a target man" and Markham suggested Sheehan and Shoretire. Sure, maybe not all his suggestions have worked, but nobody - nobody - has a 100% success rate with signings.

Markham's not taking the team-talks that lead to us coming out like frightened lambs. Markham's not the one deciding subs in advance and sticking to the spreadsheet whatever happens on the pitch. Speaking of which, Markham's not the one who had no answer at all to Oxford.

Put it another way: do you think this squad of players, as it is, should be higher than 8th? I do, and that's not about signings - it's about coaching and management.

[nicholaldo]

I've always had the impression Evatt is the de facto DoF.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I've always had the impression Evatt is the de facto DoF.

Certainly since Phoenix burned, he has seemed to be operating like the old-fashioned 'manager' a la Fergie or Wenger or Allardyce - given the power to make just about all 'footballing' decisions.

I certainly don't get the impression he's pushed around or overuled by Markham - indeed his "we're all part of the process" spiel the other day sounded more like blame-shifting. I'm sure he's not a tyrant and will take on board advice – such as "Kane Wlison's a crock" - but yeah, it feels like he's the 'leader' of the club. Which is fine when we're pointing upwards, but we're not.

[BWFC_Insane]

Fine. Can’t and won’t support this. No longer Bolton wanderers. If Sharon wants Ian Evatt FC she’s got it. Destroying Bolton wanderers in the process.

Well done. I’ve zero interest and won’t be bothering to go or follow it. I know a lot of others in the same boat.

I mean you did say you wanted her to release a statement as she'd been too quiet about the whole situation...

I don’t think I did. But regardless it’s disenfranchised me. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe all the supporters who it disenfranchises shouldn’t be fans.

That’s the end result. I’m sad more than anything else. Not surprised but sad. On the plus side Saturdays can be filled with other stuff that I’ve been enjoying more and might not disappoint as much.

Whilst we need all the fans we can get, it's probably a good decision for your own mental health to switch off from Bolton for a while and fill that time with something you enjoy mate - Hopefully you'll be back sooner rather than later

Well thanks. It’s not a mental health thing. Bolton wanderers has been very important to me but not that important. But I do think if you fall out of love with something you stop. And I can’t say whether Evatt and Brittan are the reason or it would have happened anyway for sure but certainly it doesn’t feel like the club I’ve supported for decades and decades anymore.

I suspect it has a broader set of causes too. Football is just pish nowadays and I guess most people get old and say the same regardless. But it’s lost a lot of what made it exciting and dynamic for me. That’s not just here - I think mostly the game has gone to pot.

[Hoboh]

Fine. Can’t and won’t support this. No longer Bolton wanderers. If Sharon wants Ian Evatt FC she’s got it. Destroying Bolton wanderers in the process.

Well done. I’ve zero interest and won’t be bothering to go or follow it. I know a lot of others in the same boat.

I mean you did say you wanted her to release a statement as she'd been too quiet about the whole situation...

I don’t think I did. But regardless it’s disenfranchised me. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe all the supporters who it disenfranchises shouldn’t be fans.

That’s the end result. I’m sad more than anything else. Not surprised but sad. On the plus side Saturdays can be filled with other stuff that I’ve been enjoying more and might not disappoint as much.

Whilst we need all the fans we can get, it's probably a good decision for your own mental health to switch off from Bolton for a while and fill that time with something you enjoy mate - Hopefully you'll be back sooner rather than later

Well thanks. It’s not a mental health thing. Bolton wanderers has been very important to me but not that important. But I do think if you fall out of love with something you stop. And I can’t say whether Evatt and Brittan are the reason or it would have happened anyway for sure but certainly it doesn’t feel like the club I’ve supported for decades and decades anymore.

I suspect it has a broader set of causes too. Football is just pish nowadays and I guess most people get old and say the same regardless. But it’s lost a lot of what made it exciting and dynamic for me. That’s not just here - I think mostly the game has gone to pot.

Avoid the Saturday shopping mate, it's a nightmare.

It's a shame when it comes down to this, Megson then Coyle nailed it for me it's got to the stage I don't go out of my way to check the results.
Football in general, well in my opinion, is still set on a downward course, I only know who leads the Premier league because it's on the news.
Still like to follow international football though and I, cough, confess to actually watching the woman's international team.
Will always be a Wanderers fan but the money converted to fuel and a bacon butty out on the motorbike tops chucking money in the direction of the Reebok.

[Worthy4England]

If she gets to the point of change direction because this one isn't getting us up, then for me she couldn't just jettison the Manager, she'd have to flirt the tippy-tappy advisors/DOF too - if they're all aligned on thinking (which they've said they are), they're all part of the problem. Otherwise the change would be fairly superficial, as that's one of the "benefits" of a DOF.

Not sure on this.

Markham's not a DoF in the traditional sense of being 'over the gaffer'. Our last DoF was Phoenix, who we potted and changed Evatt's title from Coach to Manager.

Markham's own LinkedIn says he was hired in Feb 2021 as Technical Performance Director and then in July 2023 his title changed to Sporting Director. Now, that's a similar title to DoF, and were someone to be brought in out of nowhere to "work with" (ie sit above) an existing manager or coach as Sporting Director, I would see that as effectively demoting the manager.

However, I'm pretty much 100% confident that in summer 2023, after we'd won a cup at Wembley and reached the playoffs, Markham wasn't getting promoted over Evatt - it was just a cosmetic title-change, possibly related to boosting the sports-science staff. Indeed, not long afterwards we hired Paul 'Not That One' Walsh as Head of Sports Science, and the title 'Technical Performance Director' does sound a little sports-sciencey. He probably just took advantage of the then-rising tide to change his title.

Anyways. I understand the idea that if Evatt goes they should all go, but there's a definite baby/bathwater possibility here. I don't think the players we've hired are necessarily bad; I suspect we've not necessarily hired the right types, and I think I know whose fault that might be. I very much doubt that Evatt said "get me a muscular 6 and a target man" and Markham suggested Sheehan and Shoretire. Sure, maybe not all his suggestions have worked, but nobody - nobody - has a 100% success rate with signings.

Markham's not taking the team-talks that lead to us coming out like frightened lambs. Markham's not the one deciding subs in advance and sticking to the spreadsheet whatever happens on the pitch. Speaking of which, Markham's not the one who had no answer at all to Oxford.

Put it another way: do you think this squad of players, as it is, should be higher than 8th? I do, and that's not about signings - it's about coaching and management.

I linked an interview with Markham where I think he talks about a partnership, rather than one being above the other on an org chart. So they're both in the same pot for me.

https://youtu.be/MJH0sesX9Z4?feature=shared

I agree, that it's not all one or another. And there's going to be some good and some bad signings. Most analysis is helpful rather than 100% infallible.

I think we have no right to be greater than 8th, but that is a combination of things including coaching and management but Evatt can't instill the spirit of Sparta in a player whose natural attitude is laid back. Some needs to come from manager, some from within the player themselves.

Put it another way, I'd like a job where what I needed to do was say "he's not using 'em right, not my fault guv," unless Markham has delivered exactly what Evatt wanted (within budget) and it was really clear cut.

Not a fan of the DoF approach for this very reason, leads to he said/she said, and given I'm not enamoured of no-tackling possession football, if we belatedly get to the point of change, I'd prefer a fresh mindset.

[officer_dibble]

I think the sooner the ‘elite’ feck pff and leave the rest of the league to actually compete that will benefit football. But it’s straying off topic! I don’t see any point parting with hard earned cash to watch santos tap it to Baxter - it will work sometimes but not others. I think we’re on for finishing mid table.

One thing will annoy me - if they start announcing contract extensions as it’s wasted money for the next chap. This bunch of players are failing - Santos in particular seems a constraint to me. He dictates our formation cos he refuses to play in a back two. He is a big factor on how slowly we play out from the back. And he wilts under pressure for a big lad - is useless in the opposition box as well. I see him leaving as key to our style change more akin to a league one side.