NATHAN Baxter could have picked up bigger wages or played football at a higher level next season – but a five-minute pep talk with Ian Evatt convinced him Bolton Wanderers was the right place to be.

After 16 years in the Chelsea fold and loan spells everywhere from Hull City to the Metropolitan Police, Baxter faced a big decision this summer on where to lay his first foundations outside of Stamford Bridge.

Israeli giants Maccabi Haifa were keen, and could offer Champions League football, and there were other offers around the Championship, including Huddersfield Town.

Wanderers boss Evatt has also turned down overtures from clubs playing in the division above – and there is a strong likelihood that those enquiries will continue in the coming weeks as the managerial merry-go-round continues to spin.

His reason for not pursuing that interest is anchored in the belief that he can fulfil his ambition with this club, under its current ownership. And that was enough for Baxter once they sat down to talk about a move.

“You look at Coventry and Luton, even going back a few years Bournemouth, and under similar managers and ownership worked their way up. Bolton is probably a bigger club than those ones,” the goalkeeper said.

“That was my conversation with the gaffer. This is a Premier League football club and it is why we are here. We have both turned down offers from the Championship to be and stay here so it is about building something.”

Baxter did his homework and knew in Matt Gilks Bolton had a goalkeeper coach who had brought out the best in James Trafford over the last 18 months.

Only a couple of years outside his own playing career, the former Blackpool and Scotland stopper is already establishing a fine reputation for working with and improving ‘modern’ keepers.

“He played at the top level. As soon as I had one conversation with Gillo and one with the gaffer I knew I wanted to come here,” Baxter said. “And to be honest, my talk with the gaffer was about five minutes of football and then we talked about the Ashes. My mind was already made up.

“I played with Dion (Charles) at Accrington and Randell at Hull. I also played with Dapo (Afolayan) and big Dan (Nlundulu) and all of them say great things. The first thing they say is ‘big club, great support.’ I’m really excited about it.”

For any goalkeeper coming to Bolton this summer, the question of mentality was an important one. James Trafford’s impact and popularity meant whoever filled the void would require both the maturity and confidence to handle inevitable comparisons and added pressures.

Baxter boasts more than 180 career appearances, has played for the last two seasons in the Championship and also boasts top-flight experience in Scotland.

On first assessment, Wanderers have landed an impressive candidate.

“I have played a lot of football. I have had a few injuries recently so the fact I played so much, so young, is huge,” Baxter said.

“I have had some great experienced. I played really well in this division a few years ago now, played in the SPL against Rangers and Celtic, so they were big experiences. I am excited about coming here having played two seasons in the division above where, when I was on the pitch, I played very well, particularly in my first season at Hull.

“I was finding that division pretty comfortable. My aim coming here is to be the best goalkeeper in the league and hopefully for the best team in the league too.”

Baxter found his last two seasons truncated by injury and will be hoping that trend does not follow him to the North West.

Unable to play for Hull from Christmas onward last year because of an ankle problem, he will link up with Wanderers for fitness testing and their training camp in Portugal feeling fresher than most.

“I think for me I missed a lot of football at the end of last season and so I haven’t really felt like I needed a break,” he told the club. “I got fit right at the end of the season. Whilst all the other lads were looking to get away on holiday I wanted the season to carry on.

“For sure I will be the most excited player on day one of pre-season. It is good we go away so soon, and being around the lads every day is going to be great.

“I’m really looking forward to starting.”