Ian Evatt says Bolton Wanderers will prepare as normal for this weekend's game against Peterborough United which he believes will go ahead but says training will be amended to enable Queen Elizabeth II's funeral to be watched and respects paid.
Her Majesty died last Thursday at Balmoral in Scotland at the age of 96. She has been succeeded by her son who has become King Charles III and the weekend's football was postponed as a mark of respect.
However, the midweek round of fixtures will all go ahead and means Bolton Wanderers' trip to MK Dons will proceed. The EFL have confirmed that a minute's silence will be held before each game, black armbands will be worn and the National Anthem will be played before kick-off, while all flags will be flown at half-mast too.
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Though Wanderers still have a game tomorrow against the Dons, there is a slight eye on the action due to take place at the weekend. The Whites are poised to welcome Posh to the University of Bolton Stadium.
The Queen's funeral will take place on Monday and there are question marks over if football this weekend might take place in light of the police resources needed for the event, especially in London. As far as Evatt is aware, Wanderers will prepare as normal and the game versus Posh will go ahead.
The funeral on Monday will be a bank holiday and the Bolton boss says training plans will be amended to ensure the squad can watch it and pay their respects. He believes the Queen is owed that respect due to the sacrifices she made for the nation and the service she gave it throughout her life.
He said: “We have to prepare as normal and everything I am hearing is that the games will go ahead. We are already thinking about how we structure training on Monday because I do think it is important that we all watch that funeral and pay our respects.
“Whether you like the monarchy or not, you cannot help but respect what service she gave to this country and the Commonwealth in general.
“Anyone who has watched The Crown will know that however wealthy these people are, and there are lots of bonuses, there is a huge sacrifice as well.
“To do what she did, she is owed a lot of respect.
“We had a pandemic, we have lost a Queen, things happen in life that cause disruption. It is about how you adapt and overcome.
“It gave us an opportunity to bed down some work on the training ground and hopefully that will come to fruition on Tuesday night now.”
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