FA Cup: Stevenage boss reveals how he almost managed Saturday's opponents King's Lynn earlier in career

Steve Evans has revealed how he almost managed the Linnets earlier in his career – as he prepares to bring his side to Norfolk in the Second Round Proper of the FA Cup.

The Stevenage boss has a close affinity for West Norfolk and disclosed how he almost ended up in the dugout at The Walks back in the John Dollimore era in the early 1990s.

Despite his local connections, it was a job that always seemed to elude him and Evans said: “I knew people who wanted to take over at Lynn and had it all gone through then the plan was for me to be manager.

“In the end I was linked with the job three or four times but for whatever reason it never quite fell at the right time for me.

“I’ve got a close affinity for the club and the people in the area, as has my assistant Paul (Raynor) who is still in touch with several of the fans.

“My father-in-law was chief engineer at Campbells for many years so it is a town that is very close to my family.”

The 60-year-old Scot doesn’t believe there is too much difference between sides in the National League and clubs in League Two.

And having managed at every level from the Southern League right up to the Championship, there probably isn’t anyone better equipped to make that call.

Evans said: “There’s some good sides at the top end of the North and South and I know just how difficult it is to get out of that league.

“Lynn are a very good side and you’ve only got to look at the likes of Ebbsfleet and Dartford in the South too

“They are not a National North club by any stretch. They have brilliant support, a good manager and some really good players who are arguably Football League players.

Evans is under no illusions about the task facing his side as The Boro look to avoid a potential shock.

“The cameras are there on Saturday because they sniff a surprise and we know how tough it is going to be,” he said.

"It's got FA Cup written all over it. A club going really well in non-league playing against a team League Two who are going really well.

“In this competition you have to earn your luck and Lynn did just that with a brilliant result in the last round.

“I watched the game back and in truth it could have been three or four, they were excellent.

"But I have also watched them in league action where they have been very impressive.

“Tommy (Widdrington) is a good footballing man and I made contact with him when he lost his job at Bristol Rovers, I thought it was harsh.

“He’s passionate, knowledgeable and will have his team meticulously prepared for the game.”

The tie will also see Evans cross paths with Lynn defender Tyler Denton – a player he took from Leeds to Peterborough.

“He’s a great lad with great ability and is easily a player who could still be playing in the league,” admitted the Scot.

“Without a doubt he’s gifted. He’s a good technician and strong, but you could say that about a lot of the current Lynn side, they complement each other so well.”

Evans is expecting a raucous reception having managed arch rivals Boston United for almost two decades, while his assistant Raynor – a firm favourite with the home faithful – played 73 times during two spells in a Lynn shirt.

“That’s normally what happens when you’ve managed a side 30 miles down the road, every football club has passionate fans,” he said.

“It’s a great game to be involved in and I know what the fans at The Walks are like. It’s a difficult place to go.

“They will be right behind their team, but by playing in League Two that’s something we’re used to as a team.

“We’ve just played Grimsby who also have brilliant supporters who also get behind their side.”

Evans also touched on the time when he did business with Widdrington for frontman Matt Tubbs.

“I stole him from Tommy at Salisbury,” he said.

“What a player he was, he scored a sensational amount of goals for me at Crawley Town and then we sold him on to Bournemouth for a big six-figure fee.”

Teams lucky enough to secure their place in the Third Round will collect a welcome £67,000 from the prize fund.