Bolton Wanderers’ Declan John heading for a January exit
DECLAN John’s Bolton Wanderers career will come to an end in January.
Ian Evatt has confirmed that the former Wales international – currently on loan in League Two with Salford City – will be allowed to leave for good when the transfer window reopens.
John’s current arrangement comes to an end next month but with Randell Williams, Jack Iredale, and Zac Ashworth all at his disposal, the Bolton boss has no plans to bring the 28-year-old back into the fold.
“As it stands right now Declan will be available for transfer,” he told The Bolton News.
“There are six months left on his contract from January, so whether that is a permanent transfer so he can find a new home, or another loan move, or if he stays at Salford, who have shown an interest in keeping him, we don’t know at the moment.
“Nothing has changed for Declan, now he needs to go and play his football somewhere else. We thank him for his hard work and effort and we’re never going to boot him out the door but the squad is incredibly strong, especially when everyone is fit and healthy. Right now he isn’t a part of that.
“It is great to see him doing well at Salford, I have had good reports and I have seen a few of his games, so we know he is a good player. We want him to go, be happy, play lots of football and find himself a new home.”
John has made 14 appearances for Salford this season, with Neil Wood’s side currently sitting 18th in League Two.
The former Rangers and Cardiff City defender played 92 times for Wanderers having initially signed on loan from Swansea City and was a major catalyst in the club’s late run for automatic promotion in 2020/21. In total, he scored eight goals in all competitions.
John initially held his first team spot in League One and also played in April’s Papa Johns Trophy final win against Plymouth Argyle. But despite retaining popularity among many Bolton supporters, he gradually became a more peripheral figure in the squad.
Evatt acknowledged the impact John had made in his first season – where his arrival alongside the likes of Kieran Lee, MJ Williams, Dapo Afolayan and Ben Jackson sparked a blistering run of form.
“I have not got a bad word to say about him, he has been fantastic for this football club and he has been a big part of my journey, a big part of the club’s journey,” the manager said.
“But things happen in football and time changes things, we have evolved as a team, so whatever happens we will wish him well.”
Wanderers potentially face losing three players in January to international competitions, with Carlos Mendes Gomes in action for Guinea Bissau at the African Cup of Nations and Australia considering calling up Gethin Jones and Jack Iredale for the Asia Cup in Qatar.
“It gives us something to think about,” Evatt said. “But we will make a decision nearer to the time.”
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