Blackpool’s plan to replace Steve Bruce screams of a risk on Bolton Wanderers evidence | OneFootball

Blackpool are reportedly considering replacing Steve Bruce as their manager

Blackpool have started the 2025/26 League One campaign in disappointing fashion.

There were shoots of promise for the Seasiders under Steve Bruce last term and it seemed like with a promising transfer window, they could make a real push for the play-offs this season.

That already looks to be outside of the realms of possibility however, after four defeats from their opening six matches, recording just one victory in that time. This sees the Lancashire outfit currently positioned within the relegation zone, which will naturally lead to extensive worry from the side’s supporters.

New recruits such as Malcolm Ebiowei and Michael Ihiekwe haven’t been able to perform consistently, whilst Nial Ennis has been sidelined since Blackpool’s shock victory over Huddersfield Town.

George Honeyman has provided a bright spark during the opening stages of the season but on the whole, the Seasiders’ performances are a real cause for concern.

Naturally, fingers have started being pointed at Bruce. Despite impressing last season, the 64-year-old’s job security has already been called into question.

According to journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon page, Blackpool have started highlighting candidates to take over from Bruce if he is dismissed.

Within those potential replacements is former Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt, who is “high up the list” as per Nixon.

The 43-year-old spent five years in charge of the Trotters and impressed on the whole, turning them into a competitive League One outfit.

That said, there is one area of concern Blackpool will be aware of when exploring Evatt’s potential as their new manager.

Ian Evatt’s Bolton Wanderers shortcomings will be a worry for Blackpool

During his time as Bolton boss, Evatt took the club from the bottom of the fourth-tier to the top of League One, which is an extremely positive trajectory.

However, once Wanderers had assembled a squad worthy of fighting for promotion to the Championship, they never managed to get over the line.

There were close calls, with consecutive unsuccessful play-off campaigns the nearest Evatt came to taking Bolton back to English football’s second-tier.

The 2024/25 campaign began in poor fashion, and it quickly became apparent that the Trotters’ faithful had fallen out of love with Evatt.

Soon, the atmosphere at the Toughsheet Community Stadium turned sour and the 43-year-old was relieved of his duties in January 2025.

Evatt’s ability to transform Bolton was impressive and this will obviously appeal to Blackpool as a reason to appoint him as their new boss if Bruce is dismissed. However, they will be extremely wary of his shortcomings.

The Seasiders’ ultimate goal is achieving promotion back to the Championship, which is something that the former Bolton boss proved he wasn’t capable of doing.

This inability to get promotion over the line ruined the club’s positive atmosphere and left supporters completely out of love with their manager, which is a scenario Blackpool obviously don’t want to materialise again.

Although the temptation to bring Evatt back to Bloomfield Road may prove strong, the higher-ups at Blackpool may view his consistent failure to secure promotion with the Trotters as too big a red flag to ignore.

Blackpool should give Steve Bruce more time

The 2025/26 campaign hasn’t started well for Blackpool and supporters will be doubly frustrated because of the promising signs they showed towards the end of last season.

However, they have completed just six matches and there is still a lot of football left to play.

Positive results against the likes of Huddersfield Town and Bolton Wanderers have shown that when the Seasiders get it right, they can mix with some of League One’s top sides.

Obviously, if the Lancashire outfit’s worrying form continues and they slip further and further adrift from safety, drastic action may have to be taken.