Bolton Wanderers will continue their pre-season preparations this Saturday with a trip to Ian Evatt's former employers Barrow, but the manager has insisted it is "strictly business", as reported by the Bolton News.

Evatt opted to make the switch from Barrow to Bolton at the beginning of the 2020/21 season, after guiding the Bluebirds to an unlikely promotion to League Two, before taking the Trotters to promotion to League One.

With two promotions in the last two years, Evatt will be keen to keep this run going, and therefore has insisted that there is no time for nostalgia on his trip to Holker Street.

Bolton have already embarked on four pre-season adventures, defeating Atherton Collieries, Longridge Town and Championship side Preston North End, before having a youthful side draw with FC United of Manchester.

Speaking to the Bolton News, Evatt said: “Obviously, I had a great time there. I loved my time there and it’s a huge part of what I am today. I’m excited but for me it’s strictly business. 

“We want to go there and perform well. We want to go there and win the game primarily but also get minutes into our legs and have a look at other players that are vying for a place on August 7. It’s another opportunity to do that and we have to go there with the right attitude.

“Firstly, I am a miserable git. I am never happy. I am just one of those guys who always wants more. Their attitude was better, there is no denying that. And I said on Saturday that I had no fears on that front because when you play against a side from a higher division against a side you respect, I’d expect them to have that attitude.

“We have spoken about FC United enough now, we’ll move on to Barrow.”

The verdict

From a Bolton perspective, Evatt shows signs of a winning manager with a fantastic attitude towards pre-season. A manager who is never too pleased with his sides performance and always wants more, is also a manager who improves his players and brings the best out of them. With two promotions already on his short managerial career's CV, Evatt will be eager to add more, and his attitude to pre-season means the players will be ready for the opening day of the season.