Ian Evatt wants Wanderers to keep producing new heroes after they took another step nearer Wembley without the departing Dion Charles, writes Pete Oliver.
Charles looks set to complete a move away from the Toughsheet Community Stadium to end a three-year stay with the Whites.
In his absence Aaron Collins struck his 13th goal of the season to give Wanderers a 1-0 win at Lincoln City and a place in the quarter-finals of the Vertu Trophy.
And Evatt believes a move for Charles is the right thing for all concerned as Wanderers aim to keep evolving.
“The one thing we've tried to do as a collective, the board and I and Chris (Markham) is try to make the right decisions for this football club. On the pitch, off the pitch, financially, we've tried to do the right things.
“We've received an offer that we deem acceptable for Dion and also we mustn't forget that Dion is also a key stakeholder in this decision.
“Sometimes you need and want a fresh challenge and we have got to look at it without emotion and say he’s 29, he's been a great player for us and we're very thankful for the things he's done. But this is a good offer for a 29-year-old and we have opportunities to bring new players in and progress the team and progress the squad.
“We wish him all the best. We're really thankful and grateful, myself personally, for everything he's done on the pitch for us and the team goes on.
“There's another Dion Charles. Everyone said the same about Dapo (Afolayan). We've replaced Dapo with some new heroes, Aaron Collins etc. We’re grateful for Dion and and what he's done. But hopefully we can bring in another hero who can score the same goals Dion has.”
Collins notched his sixth goal in the Trophy this season and his fourth in five games in all competitions as Wanderers secured a third win in five games as they bounced back from Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Rotherham.
The 2023 Trophy winners are now just two wins away from a possible Wembley return to go along with a League One play-off challenge which resumes with Saturday’s visit of Cambridge United.
“I thought it was a good response from a disappointing Saturday,” added Evatt. “The players showed great character, great spirit. We spoke before the game about showing our identity and I think we did that. We showed belief, we showed courage, determination when we had to and defended set-plays really well.
“We always find a way to respond. It's not ideal that we have to keep responding but this group of players and this group of staff are very much together, contrary to anyone's beliefs. We want to do the right things for each other and tonight we've done that and we must now take that into Saturday.
“We can't keep speaking about the stress and pressure and the sadness. We have to concentrate on what we can control and that's the future and the first part of that future is Saturday. We have to be positive and we have to take tonight's performance into Saturday and try and get three points.
“The season isn't over. There are different ways to get promoted, we all know that. We almost did it last season, so we keep going. We've got another chance to progress in this competition. It's two games from Wembley there and if we can get to Wembley three times in three years that's something to be proud of. Not many clubs do that. We will keep going. That's the message from me.”
Watch the manager's full post-match interview on Wanderers TV