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Ian Evatt felt the biggest success of Wanderers’ summer transfer window was keeping hold of their top stars for a promotion push.
Bolton host Derby County today hoping to go top of League One and give fans something to smile about on what was a quiet deadline day.
As The Bolton News went to press there had been no incoming transfers – the biggest positive being a sell-on fee triggered in Rob Holding’s move from Arsenal to Crystal Palace, which stood to earn the club a six-figure fee.
Evatt held on to the likes of Dion Charles and George Thomason amid heavy Championship interest and secured them to longer contracts.
With virtually his whole first team squad now tied to the club beyond next summer, the manager feels the stability will help ensure no player leaves on the cheap.
“What we have tried to do is make sure we had an insurance policy against all of our assets at this football club. I think we have managed it,” he told The Bolton News.
“It speaks volumes for what we are doing on and off the pitch that people like Dion Charles want to re-sign and stay with us, that George Thomason turns down a seven-figure move to the Championship and continue his progress here.
“We are heading in the right direction but it has been a transfer window where we have been challenged, so we need to embrace that. We have to remind ourselves that it is because of the progress we are making.
“I think it is the first transfer window of a few to come where people are looking at our assets with admiration and want to test us to try and bring those players to their club. I just think we have got ourselves into a great position now to make the best decisions for Bolton Wanderers and that is all we can ask for.”
Bristol City’s £1million bid for Thomason was accepted by Bolton last month but ultimately turned down by the player himself.
Asked if either Stoke or Watford had ever got to the same stage with striker Charles, the Bolton boss said he was aware of interest but did not have to turn down a concrete offer.
“Not to the same degree as George – but obviously football is a very small world and we get to know people’s interests and who has money to spend, and which positions they are looking for,” he added.
“We also get to look at the scouting list every weekend, so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know when clubs have an eye for one of our talents.
“But we put ourselves in a really strong position to be able to fend off any of that interest. I think the reputation we are gaining now is that you can’t just come and take away or steal Bolton’s players. If you are going to come for one then you need to be pretty serious about it and have deep pockets, and that is real credit to Sharon Brittan, Neil Hart, the board of directors, because we are in a position to fend off the vultures.”
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