Former Blackpool man's debt to Ian Holloway

The 38-year-old, who made more than 250 appearances for the Seasiders, sat top of the National League table with his Barrow side prior to the coronavirus outbreak which halted the season.

The Cumbrian side’s success has come against the odds, similar to Blackpool’s momentous promotion to the Premier League back in 2010.

Evatt admits that Holloway has been a major influence on his managerial career so far.

“What he taught me the most was the mental side of the game and that you need to believe in yourself,” he said.

“Unless you don’t believe you’re the best then you have no chance to be the best.

“Winners and champions act like winners and champions long before they start winning football matches.

“That’s what he brought to us – that mentality and focus of believing in yourself and that you can be the best.

“Don’t be happy with just avoiding relegation, you need to aspire to be at the top and it was that mentality that we’d always take into games.”

Evatt’s admiration for his former boss is evident, so much so that when he was asked by thesackrace.com which three managers he would self-isolate with, Holloway was among his choices.

“I’d have to say Ollie, just because of the relationship we have,” Evatt added.

“As I said, what he brought to me as a person and a character on the field and off it was amazing.

“He could talk you to death but you’d really enjoy what he was saying!

“The second, purely from a football perspective, would have to be Pep Guardiola, just for how good I think he is.

“To watch his teams, to watch his sessions, you know I’d just want to pick his brains 24 hours a day and I’m sure he’d get fed up with me!

“But I just think he’s a genius with what he’s done and how he’s played the game.

“Then the third one, probably Sir Alex Ferguson as I’m a Manchester United fan.

“The one thing that impresses me the most is how he constantly evolved at a team like Manchester United for so long and how he won so consistently.

“How he knew when to change the team and when to sell certain players is amazing and just to feed off that knowledge and speak to him would be great.

“There’s a few in the National League I wouldn’t want to be stuck on a desert island with, trust me.

“Pete Wild (Halifax boss) would be one, he’s just so intense I don’t think you’d get a minute!”