ANTONI Sarcevic has lifted the lid on his controversial departure from Wanderers in October 2021.
The former Bolton captain’s hasty departure in the days following heavy defeats to Wigan Athletic and his former club, Plymouth Argyle, has remained the subject of debate ever since.
Many speculated about a ‘bust-up’ with manager Ian Evatt, although the details were never as fantastic as some claimed at the time.
Sarcevic had led Bolton to promotion from League Two, but after an indifferent start to the season the club were already looking at potential successors in key positions for the January window.
After being criticized for his performance in the 4-0 home defeat to Wigan – a match in which Sarcevic says he suffered a shin injury – the situation came to a head after a rain-soaked match at Home Park.
Less than 48 hours later it was confirmed that his contract had been terminated and had been reinstated by Stockport County, then of the National League.
The midfielder has helped County to two promotions and a play-off final in the intervening years and recently signed for League Two Bradford City after his release at Edgeley Park.
Antoni Sarcevic celebrates a winning goal against Lincoln City in 2021 (Image: Camerasport)
But he feels some regret that his season and a half at Bolton ended on such an acrimonious note, having had such a good relationship with Evatt up to that point.
“Until I left I considered him one of the best I’d had, he was brilliant, he pulled me and Doyler (Eoin Doyle) in and asked how the boys were doing, got our points across, and it was brilliant. And it ended on a sour note,” he told the I Had Trials Once podcast.
Sarcevic and veteran striker Eoin Doyle had been told they would play Wigan but would start on the bench at Plymouth in midweek, with Kieran Lee and Amadou Bakayoko instead.
“Emotionally I thought, ‘If I can get through Saturday, I want to be available on Tuesday,’ and it was a matter of just agreeing to disagree,” he said.
“We got hammered (against Wigan) and then we came on Sunday and traveled to Plymouth on Monday. On the coach the gaffer and Gillo (Matt Gilks) sat next to me on the table, Doyler (Won Doyle), Izzy (Lloyd Isgrove), Tuttey (Andy Tutte).
“It was like that from the moment I signed, we had conversations and it was class, but on the way to Plymouth nothing happened.
Read more: Wanderers eyed Sarcevic’s successors
“I look at Doyler and say, ‘I know we lost, but he’s never like that, there’s still a game.’ ‘He laughs it off and says ‘whatever’, but I could see too much.
“We arrived in Plymouth, woke up in the morning and went to breakfast. You get your own individual rooms and we were eating in a room (down a corridor) but before you got there there was a coffee machine.
“Me and Doyler are there, the gaffer just walks down, goes to the machine and walks straight past us. We had a good relationship, but nothing.
“Because I had played for Plymouth and Doyler knew one of the lads from Swindon, Luke McCormack, we went for coffee that afternoon. We got back about half an hour before lunch and the gaffer said, ‘Guys, can I see you both?’
“He said, ‘I’m sticking to my plan, Baka (Amadou Bakayoko) is coming for you, and Kieran Lee is coming for you.’
“He said, ‘Sarce, do you want to say something?’ and I said we’d talk after the game. Done, that’s it.
“The play happens but the gaffer got a touchline ban and he was in the stands. We were 2-0 down and it was about the 60th minute and Pete Atherton or Gillo told me to get warm. I came into action after about 65 minutes and had a great chance to make it 2-1, but missed it.
Antoni Sarcevic’s last game for Bolton was a rainy evening at his former club Plymouth Argyle (Image: Camerasport)
“Then the rain just came out of nowhere. The video of their third goal went viral.”
Wanderers lost 3-0 at Plymouth but Sarcevic says Evatt had problems with his behavior in the build-up to the match.
“We walked back in and a few guys are yelling like normal,” he said. “The gaffer comes in and tells us all to shut up. He points to me and says, “Your face since we had the meeting, looking out the window.”
“I was like, ‘That wasn’t me. Then why did you engage me? I should have scored, but I didn’t throw it away.
“I said, ‘Leave it alone,’ and I turned to the guys and said, ‘Sorry guys, if I’ve been in trouble the last two days.’ “A few of them said I didn’t do that. He said, “If that’s what you all think, then you’re a bunch…” and then walked out.
“I took off my gear, went straight into the shower, guys came in and told me to leave it off. He was clearly emotional.
“I thought it was personal. I had been with the boys, things were going well, but if he thought that, he wouldn’t have included me.
“I put on my gear and went outside. Lowey (Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe) came over and put my arm around me, and I got emotional, the manager I had now became the one I loved. I was a little excited and he said, “I’m glad to see you’re doing well at home.”
“I was emotional and we had to get the coach back on the other side of the ground. As I was walking around the gaffer had three guys – I can’t remember who they were – but he was talking to them and as I walked past they all stopped, as if I was invisible.
“Imagine the feeling? This is out of order.
“I went to my room and Facetimed my lady. I said I had never been treated like that before. I said this is the worst I’ve ever felt. Kate said it will be okay, it’s emotional, and that’s how she is, she sees the positive in everything. She told me to let it go.
“The next morning we stayed after the game, my mind is on overdrive. We went for breakfast and one of the employees said, ‘Meet at 9am’.
“I was hoping it would be a case of ‘it’s been a tough two games, but let’s get over it.’ But not in the least.
“They said guys who started getting ready, the ones who weren’t in the gym. My mind is going crazy. I got my gear on and must have been there for 15 seconds and Hirdy (Sam Hird), the assistant, sticks his head around and says, ‘Sarce, can I grab you?’
“I put the dumbbells down, looked at MJ (Williams) and said, ‘What is this?’
“We were walking and it felt like half an hour. Hirdy was looking for a place to go. I just wanted to be done with it. He said, “It’s hard for me to say this, but we think you were a little too harsh there.”
‘I said I didn’t do anything wrong.
“He said, ‘I know, but you know how he is, he’s a bit emotional.’ “I felt like it was personal, the way he attacked me in front of the boys.
‘Hirdy said: ‘It’s hard for me to say this, but Stockport is coming for you.’ “I thought ‘what?’ I just switched to a mode that I’ve had my whole career, I said ‘brilliant, let’s get it done!’
“Hirdy asked if I wanted to talk to the manager, but I didn’t. Why did I have to talk to him, if he wanted to talk to me it would have been him.
“I came to my room and it was a huge emotion. I was still in Plymouth and hadn’t had time to call her (his wife).
“I got into the coach and we sat in the back. I turned around and said, ‘I’m going to Stockport.’ “I’m not kidding, from the moment I got on the bus to the moment I got home I was sorting out a deal with Stockport.
“Looking back now, I think there was a discussion beforehand, maybe after the Wigan game, maybe they knew they had to get rid of me? It was so sudden, it couldn’t have happened so quickly, I don’t know.
‘Stockport wanted me before Bolton, to be honest.’
Sarcevic will compete in the colors of Stockport County against Dapo Afolayan (Image: Camerasport)
Sarcevic played against Bolton later that year as Stockport famously claimed a scalp in the FA Cup, beating Evatt’s side 5–3 after extra time.
His post-match celebrations have sent Wanderers fans into an uproar – as have some comments on social media – but the midfielder insists those he has met in person have always been welcoming.
“I’m getting some abuse,” he added. “I’ve come across so many. You meet me face to face and they see what kind of guy I am, and we have a good conversation and it’s honest.
“Then you go to social media, the ones behind their phones, and I can tolerate the chatter, but not the ones who go to my Mrs. I’m being called ‘a rat, snake, fat’, but it’s starting to get to be a bit too much.
“When I signed for Stockport I was advised to get off my socials as there was no point in having it.”
Watch the full podcast below…