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Ian Evatt has discussed Wanderers’ decision to allow Declan John out on loan on the final day of the transfer window.
Bolton rubber-stamped a move for their former Wales international last Friday, which saw him join the League Two Ammies until January.
John had fallen behind Randell Wiliams and Zac Ashworth for a place in Evatt’s line-up, and his only appearance on the team-sheet this season had been as an unused substitute against Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
The defender could make his Salford debut this weekend against Walsall, having been unable to play against his parent club in the EFL Trophy in midweek.
Speaking about the deal, Evatt said John’s lack of involvement in the cup competitions over the last few weeks should give him options in January should he decide to look elsewhere for a move, or stay on with Neil Wood’s side.
“It wasn’t a secret that Declan was available and we were looking for clubs to show their hands – and, to be honest, there wasn’t a great deal of interest,” he told The Bolton News.
“Salford came up along with one other League Two club in the last part of the transfer window and, as we know, financials are quite tight at that level.
“We made the decision to allow him to go out on loan until January and we can re-evaluate the decision then.
“That was basically how it ended up and it was also why we didn’t involve him in any of the cup games because it still gives us some flexibility of him going somewhere else in January if things don’t work out there or here.”
John started just three league games in the first half of last season but then got himself back in contention at the turn of 2023, starting 11 of the last 19.
He played in the Papa Johns Trophy final win against Plymouth Argyle and looked set to challenge again this time around but dropped quickly down the pecking order during the summer as he entered into the final year of his contract with the club.
It now looks likely that he has played his final game for Bolton, which would leave him with 92 appearances in all for the club and eight goals, including his loan spell from Swansea City in the second half of 2020/21.
Wanderers are hoping for good news on the injury front after versatile attacker Carlos Mendes Gomes picked up a hamstring strain in the victory against Salford, where he had also scored his first goal for the club.
Players have been given a few days off before returning to the training ground on Monday to begin preparations for the game at Reading – and it is hoped that Gomes can still be part of the squad heading to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Midfielder Kyle Dempsey should also be back involved having sat out in midweek with a bruised back picked up in the victory against Fleetwood Town last month.
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