Joey Barton: Chance for a young Fleetwood player to fill shoes of Ched Evans

Barton announced after Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Wigan Athletic that Evans would not be considered for selection and should look for a new club in next month’s transfer window.

That announcement caught many off-guard – before the Wigan game, Town’s head coach had said only that Evans was unavailable.

The Gazette understands that the 31-year-old’s contract, which runs until the summer, is not being terminated but the club will look to move him on in January.

Until the Cod Army can move to recruit a replacement next month, Barton has challenged his younger players to step up to the plate.

He said: “With Ched not being in the picture we are a player down.

“We will certainly feel that short-term because we’re not Sunderland with bags and bags of players.

“The challenge is for someone to step up and fill those shoes and it looks like it’s going to be a younger player, a Shayden Morris or a Harvey Saunders who will get an opportunity.

“We’ll continue to get stronger and stronger but short-term we’ve lost a good player in Ched.

“But for us it’s an opportunity for someone to step into the breach and try to replace that kind of player.”

As of last night the club was yet to make an official statement on the Evans situation, though Barton explained the issue was the striker’s behaviour.

And he called on the Fleetwood fans to have faith in him and his decision.

The head coach (above) added: “I’ve spoken to Ched and explained to him where it was at.

“At the Blackburn pre-season game he was told in no uncertain terms that if anything like that happens again he would leave.

“For me, in the Swindon game attitude and application were not where they needed to be.

“I spoke to him about that and the response was not the correct response, so it’s an amicable, ‘Look, you need to find yourself a new club in January’.

“We’re going to go in a different direction. He’s been great since he’s been here.

“There have been great moments and he’s scored a lot of goals for us but everything runs its natural course.

“As a manager you have to make tough decisions, decisions you feel will benefit the group.

“And anybody who doubts me – and there will be a few of them, I’m sure – they only need to look at the decisions I’ve made in the last two-and-a-half years.

“Fleetwood wouldn’t be competing at the level they have been if those decisions had not been successful.”

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