Football Season Review

Bolton Wanderers were promoted back to League 1 at the first attempt after a remarkable first season under manager Ian Evatt. It was a campaign of two halves that were almost total opposites. The first half was something of a farce as the summer recruitment left him with a bloated squad of average players and Evatt appeared to be at a loss on how to turn around results and performances. The nadir was an embarrassing episode when he publically criticised loan goalkeeper Billy Crellin and was forced to rely on 38-year-old goalkeeping coach Matt Gilks for the rest of the season. The January transfer window changed everything for the Trotters as Evatt brought in several new additions. Kieran Lee and Michael Williams were partnered together in the middle of the park whilst Declan John came in on loan at left-back. Oladapo Afolayan also joined on loan and a switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation got the best out of centre-backs Alex Baptiste and Ricardo Santos, playmaker Antoni Sarcevic and goalscorer Eoin Doyle. They went on an unbeaten 14-match run, winning twelve of them and zoomed up the table from 17th place into third. Three defeats in their final eight games meant the title was beyond them but a final day win at Crawley Town sealed promotion. It was a personal triumph for Evatt, who now has back-to-back promotions and will be eyeing up a hat-trick next season.

Player of the Season: Antoni Sarcevic