BOLTON boss Ian Evatt believes Oldham’s about-turn to bring in Keith Curle to replace Harry Kewell is “crazy”.

Latics dispensed with the services of Kewell on Sunday night after seven months in charge, his penultimate game in charge being a 2-0 defeat against Wanderers at Boundary Park.

With Curle’s arrival imminent, the former Northampton and Carlisle boss is likely to bring a more pragmatic style than the Australian who saw his side score plenty and concede even more to sit 16th in League Two.

It is the differing philosophies and the lack of time given to the Australian that means Evatt is a little perplexed by the move by the Oldham hierarchy. 

"I feel for Harry,” he said. “I spoke to him before the game, he said next season will be so much better because we'll know who's fit for purpose, who isn't, who can we recruit and improve the squad and team, and he's not had that chance.

“He had three players in the summer and I think he was doing well where they are.

"It seems a crazy, crazy decision, especially with the philosophies being probably opposite ends of the spectrum - Harry and Keith are probably complete opposites in football terms.

"So if Harry's recruited a squad to play a certain way and Keith wants to play a completely different way, what's the benefit? Where are you going to go with it?

"I would have thought Harry deserved at least until the summer to see if they finished well, finished strong. If they were going to make a change then the summer's probably the best time to do it.

“They've got a pre-season and full transfer window to do business. So I feel for Harry. I feel for all managers who lose their job, it's not a nice part of the business really.”