Bolton manager Ian Evatt believes that fixtures in League One should be postponed during the international break.
Due to call-ups for players like Zac Ashworth, Josh Sheehan, Eoin Toal, and Dion Charles, Wanderers have enjoyed a free weekend for the past two months.
According to EFL regulations, if three or more players, including those at the Under-21 level, are called up, either team may decide to postpone a match. Furthermore, just six matchups made it through the previous two international breaks.
According to Evatt, the current strategy creates an unfavourable skew in the league standings, with his team perhaps sitting two or maybe three games below other teams at the top following November’s break.
“I think we need to do something better,” he stated. Personally, I feel that certain fixtures should not be in place.
“When most of the games are postponed due to international commitments, we must cancel them all and utilise the extra Tuesdays we have during the season. or make use of the space at season’s end?
“Even after 11 games in October, they are already two games ahead of us, so there has to be a better approach than what we are doing now. It’s not always the best course of action, in my opinion.
In addition to having two games in hand on fifth-place Stevenage, Wanderers can jump up to third place this afternoon if they defeat Northampton and other results go their way.
“We want to be higher in the table, but having games in hand can create a false impression,” he stated. Overall, the team is performing fairly well, but I believe we can do better.
“Having everyone back will give us a strong foundation on which to attack these next six games and secure as many victories as we can.”
Evatt claims the squad is getting closer to filling Sam Hird’s position in his backroom. Hird resigned as first team coach last week to join the PFA.
He stated, “We have made some progress and reduced the number of applicants.” We’ve looked through each one and made an attempt to create a small shortlist.
“We are very happy with what Matt Craddock has done so far; he has really stepped up really well. It will take time, and it is a process.”
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