'The Blackpool career I wanted' - Ex-West Brom man shares impact of former Bolton Wanderers boss
Zac Ashworth reflects on his recent run of games and his role under Ian Evatt.
Zac Ashworth states the Blackpool career he’s craved for has kick-started in the past month - as he vows the current group of players at Bloomfield Road will come good this season.
The 23-year-old made the move to Bloomfield Road from West Brom in the summer of 2024, but it hasn’t been a straightforward journey so far.
Having been signed by Neil Critchley to fit into a wing-back system, the defender soon found himself without a natural role following a sudden change of manager.
With minutes proving hard to come by in Steve Bruce’s back four, Ashworth was loaned out to Ross County last January, with 13 appearances coming his way during his stint north of the border.
Game time continued to be limited for the Baggies youth product at the start of the current campaign, but Ian Evatt’s arrival as head coach in October has appeared to have changed his fortunes.
Having worked under the 44-year-old during a loan spell with Bolton Wanderers during the 2023/24 season, Ashworth has been able to find himself a home at both left wing-back and as part of a back three in the latest change of formation on the Fylde Coast.
With eight appearances coming his way under Evatt so far, Ashworth is pleased with the way things are panning out.
“Football is full of surprises, and twists and turns,” he said.
“Since the gaffer has come in, I feel like I’ve finally kick-started the Blackpool career I wanted. Hopefully I can keep playing games and affect the team positively.
“It can be really difficult sometimes to not play for four, five, six weeks and then get thrown in. It’s hard then to be at your best. Consistent minutes are important with that match fitness and sharpness - and the belief you have in yourself.
“I’ve worked with the gaffer before and really enjoyed it. I knew when he came in what he’d be about and what he’d want from his players. Everyone’s on the same page now and competing to play in the team.
“In the first couple of weeks we spoke to each other quite a bit about implementing his ideas. It’s our job to take on board information from managers, and all understand what’s required in different phases of the game and we’ll be a better team for it.”
‘Take accountability’
Ashworth admits it was crucial for Blackpool to return to winning ways in their 4-1 victory over Carlisle United in the FA Cup.
Despite the optimism around Bloomfield Road in the summer, the Seasiders have struggled on the pitch, and currently find themselves sat in the League One bottom four.
“It was important that we came out to win the game,” the defender added.
“We wanted to put in a good performance and show what we’ve been working on. The gaffer has come in and implemented a lot of different ideas, complex ideas, so it was always going to take a little bit of time to adapt to it.
“Now the boys are back from the treatment room, that can only be a positive for us. It’s just about using it as a springboard and kicking on.
“We don’t need the outside noise to tell us we haven’t been good enough because we know it ourselves. We’ve been inconsistent at times, and we’ve all taken that accountability that we all need to do something about it.
“That changing room is the best I’ve been in, it’s a really close group. There’s a lot of characters and everyone’s really close. We’ve not lost faith in each other, it’s just about being a bit more consistent and hopefully kicking on.
“Football is never as straightforward as signing good players and playing well. At times we know we’ve not done well enough. We’ve had quite a big injury list, but as the boys who have been playing we’ve got to take the accountability that we’re all still good enough to win games of football, and we’ve not done that enough.
“I’ve got full faith in the boys and the gaffer that we can still get something from this season.”
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