Bolton's return to League One has been a successful one, with the club climbing into the top half of the division in their first season back.

There was even hope of a play-off push at one stage of the campaign, only for a few wayward results to lead to them falling out of contention. After last weekend's final results though, the club have settled for ninth - and Ian Evatt wants to continue to build on this next year. In fact, the manager has told the Manchester Evening News that he is aware of what needs to be tinkered with in his squad and that he knows 'where the club needs to improve.'

Ian Evatt has worked with Barrow and Chesterfield in the past and already has plenty of successes to his name. He led the former of the two clubs to National League title glory during his stint as boss and followed that up with fourth tier promotion with current club Bolton. Add in his honours as a player and Evatt knows how to win in football.

The manager has now taken stock of his Wanderers side with the season at an end and clearly has one eye on the transfer window already and what needs to be done to his current playing squad.

There will likely be a few incomings and several more outgoings too - but Evatt feels he is prepared to sort out his squad and knows where he needs to improve and strengthen his side.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about it, the manager said: "I know where we need to improve and I’ll be given the full backing to make sure we get what we need in the summer.

"There’s no doubt about that and there’s conversations taking place all the time. The board have been absolutely fantastic in their support of me. We’ve had conversations, we know exactly where we want to get to and what it’s going to require for us to get there and together we’re looking at doing it.

"It’s as simple as that. It’s exciting. I think next season we’re going to be in a much better place and a stronger place. We’re going to have a real depth of squad. We know where we need to improve and it’s really exciting.”

Evatt then will be prepared for a summer sort out - and will be hoping it can take him to yet another EFL promotion come this time in the next season.

The Verdict

Ian Evatt certainly has a promising CV so far when it comes to his honours and what he has achieved as a manager. He's already taken Bolton back into League One and they haven't just made up the numbers either during their first season back.

At one point, it looked like the Wanderers might end up being in the top six. That speaks volumes of how far the club have come under the former Barrow boss and how well he can do as their manager. If this upward trajectory continues, then the signs are promising for Bolton and Evatt.

He certainly appears to have a plan already in place in regards to where he wants to take the Wanderers and where he wants them to be next season. He obviously wants to have them in the top six hunt and that could mean a busy and interesting transfer window for the club.

They cannot afford to tinker too much with a side that has climbed into the top half - because that could ultimately send them in the other direction. Evatt then will have an intriguing offseason on his hands and if he handles it well, then it could pay off massively for the club.