Exclusive: Salford’s Paul Rowley Taking Lessons from Bolton’s Football Bosses

Salford Red Devils head coach Paul Rowley is a self-confessed Bolton Wanderers fan and admits supporting the Skybet League One outfit is more nerve wracking than watching his own team.

Rowley is a regular at the Toughsheet Community Stadium and saw at close quarters the recent trials and tribulations suffered by former Trotters’ boss, Ian Evatt.

It reinforced his belief that masterminding the fortune of a Betfred Super League side is more agreeable.

“You know, I just, I remain calm,” agreed Rowley, about to embark on his final season as head coach before becoming Director of Rugby and handing the reins to Kurt Haggerty.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, he added: “With football, it gets you because of all the different emotions; you get frustrated and annoyed but then my football knowledge is very poor."

“That lack of knowledge probably adds to the frustration. But I like to watch sport, I like to be entertained, and I love the Bolton stadium."

“The atmosphere is quite awesome. I love to feel the emotion of live sports. It just gets you tearful, doesn't it?"

Rowley, who previously coached Leigh Leopards (then Centurions) and Toronto Wolfpack, was due to meet Manchester City women’s team boss Gareth Taylor this week for a cross-sport chat.

He’s also keen to chew the fat with Evatt’s successor, Steven Schumacher, and previously tapped into the knowledge of ex Bolton and England manager, Sam Allardyce.

“I like how Ian Evatt stuck with his philosophy even under pressure,” added the 49-year-old. “I value that."

“Even though I could be as frustrated with that philosophy, it's not mine to choose, but he stuck with it."

“Whether I agree or not with how the football team is going, you can sit there and have an awful amount of empathy for the human side of it."

“I know that he and other football managers they care about the players and the business they are in."

“But how do you keep a level head and see things for what they actually are? And maintain a calm bench.”

DOUBLE PLAY-OFF SUCCESS

Rowley has twice guided Salford to the play-offs since becoming head coach for the 2022 campaign. Last year, the Red Devils finished fourth after the regular season, losing to former club in the play-offs.

So, there have rarely been any dissenting voices among the AJ Bell Stadium faithful.

“It’s because we've learned to hide up in the stand, instead of standing on the touchline, jumping up and down like somebody crazy,” laughed Rowley. “I don’t always get the need to be touchline.”

But league coaches generally don’t receive the abuse directed at football managers?

“Well, there are generally less fans,” answered Rowley. “So, it's magnified at a football match."

“I think in that instance (with Evatt), the pressure had been building and building. It got to a point where it was uncomfortable to listen to. A single person gets so much negative attention within a stadium."

“I really felt for him (Evatt). I think the biggest learnings are from behaviours and how they deal with situations.”