Ian Evatt spoke warmly of the support he receives from the Bolton Wanderers board and chairman Sharon Brittain following Thomas Tuchel's sacking by Chelsea and believes the loyalty both parties show towards one another is a 'rairity' in the game.
Tuchel was dismissed by the Stamford Bridge side following the 1-0 loss in the Champions League to Dinamo Zagreb. Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter is the favourite to succeed the German in the Chelsea dugout.
Evatt has been at Wanderers since the summer of 2020. He has gone on since then to achieve promotion out of League Two with the club and a top 10 finish last summer upon the club's return to League One, with a place in the top six being sought this campaign.
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During his time at Wanderers, even during difficult periods where results on the pitch has not come, Evatt has retained the support of Brittan and Bolton board. It is not simething Evatt takes for granted and cannot imagine what it is like not to have that.
He believes it is a two-way street, too. Speculation linked Evatt with the then-vacant job at former club Blackpool over the summer but were not of interest to the Bolton boss - whose deal with Wanderers runs until mid-2024 - and has vowed that will be the case moving forwards as well if approaches come for his services.
Evatt said: “I can’t imagine what it’s like being a manager and worrying for your job on the back of one result and being with owners and a chairman that would be so reactive. I’m not saying Thomas has had that because he’s probably not but how are you supposed to get the best out of a manager and how is he supposed to function on a daily basis if he’s constantly worried about his own job.
“I have a great amount of support from Sharon and the rest of the board and they enable me to focus on what I need to do to make us better. She trusts me, I trust her, and loyalty works both ways because when clubs come knocking for me, my loyalty is with Sharon and this football club because it’s a two way street.
"She’s shown me loyalty at times when it’s been difficult for me and vice-versa when clubs have been knocking, there’s no interest from me because it’s a two-way street and it’s great that a football club can have that because it’s a rarity, it really is.”
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