Former Bluebirds boss Ian Evatt says he would be delighted to see his former club build on their progress and reinforce the club’s position in the town.

Evatt, speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting between his current club Bolton Wanderers and Barrow AFC (kick-off 7.45pm), says the long-term plan when he was in charge at Holker Street was to reverse the club’s decision to train in the Manchester area.

Evatt said that was done for good reason – but that the town would benefit from the Bluebirds doing all their work in Barrow down the line.

Evatt said that, while training away from Barrow “helped them recruit”, the community aspect of the decision could not be ignored. “The plan when I was there was always to develop the club to the point and get them back in the Football League where they can move everything back to Barrow again,” he said.

“The football club is the heartbeat of every community and they want to see Barrow footballers in and around the town.

“That is what I wanted to see. We wanted to see kids in Barrow shirts and we got to that stage.

“We never got to that stage where we were comfortable enough in the Football League while I was there to move everybody and relocate up to Barrow to base everything in the town, which I think is really important for the community.”

Asked if that could happen eventually, Evatt – speaking to the Bolton News – added: “I hope so. From what I understand, that is the owner’s plan and it should be the plan.

“There is a huge catchment area there that is only really shared with Carlisle, the nearest club, which is an hour away.

“There is a huge catchment of talent and I think while the club is doing well and progressing, they are able to build up an academy and build up the young footballers from that area to be able to coach them, training them and then hopefully get them into the first team further down the line.”

Evatt was in charge at Holker Street from 2018-20 and memorably led the club back into the Football League before moving to Bolton, who are now in League One.

The Trotters host the Bluebirds in the Papa John’s Trophy second round tonight at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Evatt has also been reflecting on his early days at Barrow and how he says he sought to professionalise aspects of the club, who were then in the National League.

He also discussed the style of play he embedded in the Bluebirds.

“At the time, I had American owners before Paul [Hornby] and the rest of the board took over. We had seven players, I think, on our first day of pre-season, which was in July with three or four weeks to prepare,” he said.

“I remember the first rondo we did like it was yesterday. Myself and Peter [Atherton], assistant] joined in and we were the best two players.

“Four weeks later, we scored a goal in the first game of the season - we won 3-0 – I think it was 23 or 24 passes. From them on, it was just progression.

“We finished in the top ten that season and obviously managed to win the National League the next season.

“The group of owners who have it now are fantastic people. They love the club, they are local people.

“They were fantastic with me and gave me the platform to get them to where I believe they belong.

“Since then, to sustain themselves in League Two is fantastic and this season they are really making a splash, which is great to see.”

Evatt said the flipside of the decision to train in Manchester came at a cost which was thankfully supported by directors.

“With the home fixtures, we didn’t want players travelling on Saturdays because it is quite a way – one road in, one road out. We decided to treat it more or less like an away game and stay overnight – Fridays train in Barrow,” he said.

“That has a cost to it – staying in hotels etc – and the board backed us with that. Then we started to get good results and from then on it snowballed.

“It was a really tough job but a really good grounding. I don’t do things easy – I took over Barrow at that point. I came [to Bolton] when things weren’t all hunky dory.

“But I like a challenge and I will never forget my time there.”