Football / Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers sack manager Darrell Clarke
Darrell Clarke won back-to-back promotions as manager of Bristol Rovers, guiding the Gas from the Conference to League One.
But the 40-year-old has had a frustrating season this year with Rovers currently 21st, four points from safety, and Clarke admitting that he was “under-achieving as a manager” with his team “going backwards”.
After almost six years at the club, Clarke has now departed the Memorial Stadium alongside assistant manager Marcus Stewart, with coach Graham Coughlan taking interim charge for Saturday’s game at Sunderland.
is needed now More than ever
In a statement, the club said: “This season commenced with optimism and high expectations of a challenge for the play off places but results and performances have been disappointing.
“After much soul searching and lengthy deliberations it has been mutually agreed that it is probably in the best interests of the club and of Darrell Clarke to seek a fresh way forward. Darrell leaves the Club with immediate effect and on amicable terms.”
Clarke gave an explosive press conference following Rovers’ 4-0 loss at home to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday in what turned out to be his last game in charge.
He hit out at the board and said that he did not think that a new training ground or stadium would be built during his tenure as manager.
“For me, I think it’s the other way. There’s going to be cuts,” he said.
“You have to deal with that. As a manager, you sit here and go right, what do I do? I’ll do what I’ve always done when I’ve been at this football club, I’ll fight for the supporters.
“My efforts might not be good enough but I’m going to be in there, pitching, fighting, scrapping for them, to be honest with you.”
Names already in the picture for the vacant managerial role include Steve Cotterill, Paul Hurst, Michael Flynn and Ian Holloway.
Read more: ‘I love the feeling, the collective cry, the rhythm of the chanting, the pasties – all of it’
Main photo courtesy of Bristol Rovers
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
