Ian Evatt insists there was never any question over his future as Bolton Wanderers manager amid speculation linking him with the Blackpool job which he insisted was a 'nothing story'.
Evatt has been in charge at Wanderers since the summer of 2020 after joining the club from Barrow. In that time, he has achieved automatic promotion out of League Two with the Whites and led the club to a ninth placed finish upon their return to League One last season.
The Bolton boss signed a new three-year contract with the club last summer. He and his players are targeting challenging for promotion out of League One this season.
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Speculation over the summer linked Evatt with the vacancy at former club Blackpool following the sudden departure of previous boss Neil Critchley. At one stage, the bookmakers made Evatt the favourite for the role.
However, the Seasiders eventually appointed former Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton in charge at Bloomfield Road. It put an end to any possibility that Evatt could take over at his old side.
Speaking for the first time about the links, Evatt admits there was 'a lot of talk' regarding the vacancy. But he was emphatic there was never any suggestion he would leave Wanderers and that mindset is going to stay as he labelled the speculation which emerged as a 'nothing story'.
Evatt said: “There was a lot of talk, there were conversations. But have I been tested? Absolutely not. Was I ever going to be tested? Absolutely not.
“I love my job, I love the players that I work with, but it is easy for me to sit here and say that. It is the honest truth. This club gave me an opportunity and it has shown me loyalty at times when it has been difficult. I think we have seen benefits of that.
“There was never a question or thought in my mind that I would leave this football club, not one, and that is how it is going to stay. I have a goal and an ambition and that can all be achieved here, together. That was one of the reasons I came here in the first place.
“I don’t want to be a manager who moves here, there and everywhere else. I want to be a manager who creates a legacy and achieves something. That is shared with Sharon and the rest of the ownership group.
“I was on holiday at the time when it was all kicking off and I was laughing about it all because it was nothing, it was a nothing story, really.
“People asked why I didn’t make a statement. I don’t need to. My statement is every press conference and every day I work here. I am fully invested and fully bought in, and that is not going to change."
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