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Ian Evatt is planning to bring in a set-piece specialist to help get Wanderers some marginal gains in League One next season.
The club are currently advertising for a new analyst who will be given the responsibility of enhancing the information given to players on their next opponents, specifically on corners, free kicks and throw-ins.
Evatt says he will not risk an imbalance in his squad by wasting his improved budget this summer on big fees or wages – rather he is looking to improve the infrastructure around the team that finished fifth last season to get even more out of his current players.
More signings are likely but Wanderers are determined to ‘spend smart’ as they look to challenge for promotion.
“We are financially sound and that is great credit to everyone, from the board and Sharon, to the fans, who have had a big impact on that,” he told The Bolton News.
“It does cause nice problems. It doesn’t mean we are going to go and splash huge cash on players and sign them on huge salaries because number one, that isn’t what we want to do, and number two it can ruin the culture we have already created here.
“We have a squad who are hungry and have a point to prove. The minute I start signing X, Y or Z on double or treble the salary my players are currently earning then you are asking for a problem.
“This is now about how we spent money wisely. We were not far from getting promoted last season – 81 points and beaten by a second-phase set piece goal over two legs at Barnsley.
“Everyone said we were poor, Barnsley were great. Analysing that game back, I think Barnsley just nullified us. They didn’t play fluid football or cut us to shreds.
“We need to look at what one per cent factors can now get us over the line – and it doesn’t just come from signing players. It could be staffing investment, getting more out of our staff, getting more staff in to help develop players.
“Set plays, for instance, GPS data, will definitely benefit players long-term and make sure we are getting more for every pound we spend.”
Evatt has not ruled out the possibility that the new analyst could have a coaching background, or be used in practical training sessions, if the right candidate came along.
“We are looking to bring someone in – and that might be an analytical role, but if it is someone who can also deliver, then potentially it is a coach,” he added.
“But fundamentally it is someone who can do detailed analysis of set plays, opposition strengths and weaknesses. We do a lot of this already but we are talking really fine detail and someone who can give me good information to deliver to the players and really get some benefit from it.
“We are talking about small changes, the one per cents that can improve, and set plays is definitely one.
“Our record from scoring at set plays post-January was actually pretty good. If you compare it to the rest of the division we are getting better, but I want to do that quicker.”
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