WANDERERS are close to deciding whether to send loanees Tom White and Billy Crellin back to their parent clubs.

Ian Evatt insisted yesterday that he had not yet made up his mind on whether midfielder, White, or goalkeeper, Crellin, will be sent back to Blackburn Rovers or Fleetwood Town, respectively.

But with both players currently out of the first team picture and Bolton looking to bring in at least four new signings during the transfer window, the Whites boss admitted yesterday that parting company was one of the possibilities he was considering.

“Nothing has been finalised yet but we are looking at different options, different outcomes,” he told The Bolton News.

“The lads need to be playing football and if you have come to a club and you are not playing then a) they have to want to play games themselves, but b) we are going to possibly look at returning them to their parent clubs.

“But I must underline that nothing has been finalised yet, we’re still talking and communicating. We will see where it ends up.”

White, who played under Evatt at Barrow last season, started the season in the side but has started just once in League Two since September 26.

Crellin’s erratic form became a matter of much discussion back in October when Evatt’s post-match comments regarding the young keeper after a draw at Cambridge became national news.

He returned to save a penalty in victory against Bradford City but further mistakes cost him his place in the team by the start of November, when goalkeeper coach Matt Gilks stepped up to inspire an unbeaten run.

Crellin has featured on the bench ever since but a prospective return to Fleetwood will come as little surprise to the Bolton supporters.

Meanwhile, Evatt reckons Wanderers will have a loan signing ready to go at the start of the January transfer window.

Swansea City wing-back Declan John has been strongly linked with a move to the University of Bolton Stadium but while the Bolton boss remained tight-lipped on the identity of his potential new signing, he believes the deal could be done in a matter of days.

“Nothing is completed as yet but we think we have agreed a loan deal for someone,” he said. “I don’t think that will be announced until early January but apart from dotting I’s and crossing t’s that is almost there.

“There will be in-goings and out-goings, simple as that, but there is nothing to confirm just yet.”