Having challenged for automatic promotion from the third tier last term, Bolton were beaten to the final spot by Derby County on the final day of the 2023-24 campaign.

They eventually beat Barnsley across two legs in the play-off semi-final to reach the final at Wembley, but they were uncharacteristically off the pace as Oxford dominated them over 90 minutes and won 2-0.

Evatt blamed fear on their defeat, which prevented them from returning to the Championship for the first time since 2019.

Bolton carried on that form into this season, with Tuesday’s defeat at the hands of Charlton their 10th in the league in 2024-25, a result which left them ninth and three points off the play-off places after 24 games.

It has been a tough campaign for Evatt, who claimed in September he had the backing of the club’s board after a wayward start to the campaign, while his son also experienced abuse from fans.

Having blamed his side’s inconsistent form on psychology, his side then registered 10 victories from 17 games in all competitions to claw their way into the play-off places, but Evatt was critical of fan judgement on his side’s performances.

That criticism came after Brittan pledged her support despite the fact they were well off the pace of League One’s automatic promotion chasers following a dispiriting defeat by near neighbours Wigan Athletic, who themselves had been struggling.