Blackpool boss Ian Evatt discusses his love of football and the Seasiders.

Ian Evatt’s shared love of football and Blackpool is something that can never be called into question.

Since taking over as Seasiders head coach last October, he has worn his heart on his sleeve throughout the highs and the lows during his first nine months in charge.

The 44-year-old’s footballing journey started in the ranks of Derby County, before finding himself playing for the likes of Chesterfield and QPR before arriving at Bloomfield Road as a loanee in 2006.

His time in Tangerine saw him win promotion to both the Championship and the Premier League, earning the retired centre back legendary status on the Fylde Coast.

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As a coach, football has taken him from Barrow to Bolton Wanderers, and now back to Blackpool.

“Football is everything to me,” Evatt said during the Seasiders’ recent Spain trip.

“I just love the game so much. Sometimes the industry frustrates me a lot, but I absolutely love the game, and it hasn’t changed. I’m still a student - I want to learn and I want to progress.

“I want to watch different coaches; not just in football, but in other sports. Football in particular just excites me, and I’ve just got a huge desire to be the best that I can be. That takes commitment, for it’s 24/7 - I just don’t ever switch off from it.

“Hopefully I can learn, continue to learn, and progress with this football - and hopefully in the future I will get us back to where we belong.

“I’ve evolved, matured, and grown up as I’ve gone along. I’ve always been fairly intelligent; I do like to read and I do like to study. The more I’ve done that, and the more I’ve worked with great people, Ollie (Ian Holloway) for instance, just left a foot print of what I want to walk in and add stuff to.

“To be the head coach of this football club is incredibly special for me, and it means more than just a job or football for obvious reasons. Like I said when I first walked through the door, no one is going to try harder to make this football club a success. There’s never any guarantees in football, but it won’t be for the lack of hard work and trying.”

Evatt admits there was an instant click when he arrived as a player at Bloomfield Road, with his loan swiftly being made permanent.

“It was straightaway really - in that first season,” he added.

“People forget about the 2007 season because of what happened after it, but the perfect 10 was then.

“It was the first year we signed a group of misfits that literally just clicked and come together. Yes, that squad evolved over time, and there was some people that continued along the journey, but straightaway we found a togetherness and a brilliant culture. We bought into the town, and understood what it was.

“Instantly, we all fell in love with it. From then, until I finished, I think every player would’ve said the same thing about Blackpool and how everyone came together at the right time.”