Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt believes he is 'mixed' on the prospect of five substitutes being introduced into the EFL on a permanent basis as he weighed up the pros and cons of the matter.
This comes as the Premier League announced their clubs had agreed to five subs for the 2022/23 season following lengthy discussions on the topic. Five substitutes were first introduced in May 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic but English leagues reverted back to three at the start of this season.
Many European leagues continued to use the five substitutes this season, as did UEFA for the Champions League and Europa competitions as well as the EFL for the latter stages of the Carabao Cup.
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With the Premier League reintroducing the rule, people will now look to the EFL to see if they will follow suit and it is being confirmed that it is being looked at and will be subject to a formal vote by clubs this summer ahead of the new campaign.
Wanderers boss Ian Evatt has spoken on the prospect of being able to make five changes in a game once again, just as he was able to for a large part of the 2020/21 campaign which saw Bolton seal automatic promotion out of League Two.
Evatt admits he is mixed and does not have an overly strong opinion on the matter, but he admits it benefitted his side last season where they were able to competely change their forward line and win points from that.
The Bolton boss believes it can be frustrating if managers use them as tactical substitutes to disrupt games and momentum of sides in matches.
But as long as they are used in the right way, Evatt has no complaints on the potential of being able to make a couple more changes each game.
Evatt said: "I am mixed. Sometimes I would like five subs, especially after the first 30 minutes against Wigan.
"But it is when it becomes tactical that it becomes frustrating. The last thing that I want to see is people time wasting and using substitutions, because they have got five, to disrupt momentum in games.
"I have not really got a strong opinion on it. When I have been playing, it has always been three so I would not be gutted if it stays that way. But I would not be too gutted if I manage to have five.
"Last season, it was great for us because we could change the whole frontline virtually every game and then have some real fresh legs and energy for the last 20 minutes, and we gained some points from that.
"We will see what happens but, providing it is used in the right manner, I do not really have a strong opinion."
