Following Ian Evatt’s dismissal, the former Saudi club manager is being considered for the manager’s position at Bolton.
Fowler, 49, is looking for a chance to manage in England after stints in Thailand, India, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, and sources close to the vastly experienced former Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester City striker have confirmed his interest in taking over at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Wanderers severed ways with Evatt after Tuesday night’s home defeat by Charlton, which dropped them to ninth in the League One table in a season when they were anticipated to challenge for promotion following last season’s agony in the play-off final.
Former Stoke manager Steven Schumacher, Rotherham’s Steve Evans, and former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce have all been connected. However, Fowler is determined and ambitious to show that he can establish a managing career to mimic his playing days.
He also played for Cardiff and Blackburn, as well as spending time in Australia and Thailand over the course of 19 years. Fowler has been waiting for the proper opportunity to return to management since being fired by Al-Qadish in late 2023 following an eight-game unbeaten streak as coach.
Evatt’s dismissal was announced on Wednesday following a 2-1 loss to Charlton Athletic. The Trotters are presently eighth in the League One table, three points behind the play-off places.
Julian Darby, Andy Taylor, and Andrew Tutte will take over as interim academy coaches. They will oversee the team’s journey to Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but a permanent appointment might be made soon.
Evatt joined Bolton in 2020 and led the team to automatic promotion from League Two in his first season. However, he was unable to lead them to the Championship, as they lost in the play-off final last season.
With famous names like Wrexham and Birmingham City now in the third tier, Evatt’s team struggled to stay up. After a string of disappointing results, the club’s board opted to act, with chairman Sharon Brittan taking the opportunity to pay tribute to her team’s previous manager.
“Ian arrived at a difficult time for Bolton Wanderers Football Club, and his commitment to rebuilding, both on and off the pitch, has been admirable,” Brittan said after the dismissal was announced.
“He established a revitalised feeling of professionalism and purpose, and we appreciate his considerable contributions over his four and a half years at the helm. He has been a pleasure to deal with, and I personally appreciate his hard work and dedication to this Club.
“He has left a magnificent legacy and will be recognised for the triumphs he has achieved. We wish him success in the future. The Board is dedicated to identifying the best candidate to lead Bolton Wanderers forward.”
