Blackpool boss makes clear what he expects from ex-Blackburn Rovers and Derby County figure
Blackpool take on Burton Albion this weekend at the Pirelli Stadium.
Blackpool boss Ian Evatt is expecting a tough challenge against Burton Albion this weekend - with the Brewers currently managed by a familiar Fylde Coast figure.
Following a spell out of management, ex-Seasiders head coach Gary Bowyer took over at the Pirelli Stadium last December, and guided the Staffordshire outfit to League One survival against the odds.
The 54-year-old won the League Two play-offs back in 2017 while at Bloomfield Road, during what was a difficult period for the club, and also has the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Salford City and Bradford City among the teams on his CV.
Evatt states he’s expecting a hard contest for his side on Saturday afternoon, as they look to chase down Burton and others in the third tier to pull themselves away from the bottom four.
“The last team I faced that Gary managed was Salford, but I know him well, we go back a long way - when I was a kid at Derby he worked there,” he said.
“I’m not surprised that he’s done well. As I know myself, when you’re out of work it’s about decisions. I chose to turn things down, and wait for the right opportunity, and fortunately for me this came along and made me very happy.
“It’s tough and competitive. There’s a lot of managers out there, and clubs all see the game differently. Gary has had to be patient, but when he’s been given the opportunity again, he’s grasped it with both hands, and I expected nothing different. He’s really got them playing and given them an identity.
“I’m very respectful of him, I think he’s a good man and a good manager - who is very experienced. I know his team is well coached and has a way of playing which is hard to deal with, they ask you a lot of questions and they’re in good form at the moment.
“We’re not under any illusions, it’s going to be really tough on Saturday, but we’ve won our last three games so we’ve got to fight to keep that going. When you get on these mini runs, you’ve got to do all you can to continue them.”
‘I’ve been fortunate’
Speaking to the Gazette back in May, Bowyer reflected on some of the highlights he has enjoyed throughout his coaching career.
“I’ve been fortunate with the successes I’ve had,” he admitted.
“To go in at Blackburn, with all the negative media it was getting, and turn the club around, building a team that was young and hungry - with massive assets, that was a real buzz for me because I had been there 11-and-a-half years.
“Then, the romance of being a kid and watching your dad playing at Wembley so many times, to then lead Blackpool out there was a huge moment for myself and my family. To top it off by winning - that was just huge.
“Then, to go up to Scotland and be an Englishman winning there, that gives me an enormous sense of pride.
“For this one (with Burton), no one gave us a chance, we were dead and buried, so it’s a fantastic achievement for everyone.
“It’s difficult to rank them all because they are so different and so unique.”
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