Football Rovers CEO speaks out over decision to sack manager

MARTYN Starnes has admitted “unease had crept in” for the Bristol Rovers board in the weeks before Ben Garner’s sacking, writes Sam Frost.

Starnes, Rovers’ CEO, pictured, delivered the news to Garner on Saturday that he had been relieved of his duties following the 4-1 defeat to Fleetwood Town. The loss left Rovers three points clear of the League One relegation zone, prompting Starnes and Gas owner Wael Al-Qadi to hold a board meeting minutes after full time before agreeing to call time on Garner’s tenure.

The CEO has shed light on the how the decision came about and why Saturday proved to be Garner’s last day as the Rovers manager.

“We hadn’t given Ben a final warning or so many games or anything like that,” Starnes told the Post’s website Bristol Live on Tuesday. “I think it’s fair to say some unease had crept in with us regarding the results and the performances. We know the conditions were very difficult on Saturday, but we just felt the performance was so poor, particularly in the first half.

“We weren’t seeing any eradication of the mistakes that were being made, there was no improvement in the performances really and no improvement in the results. We had an impromptu board meeting immediately after the game and we came to a unanimous decision that the time had come to make a change. Six wins in 33 matches just isn’t acceptable.”

Focus quickly turned to identifying Garner’s successor for Starnes and Al-Qadi, who have held discussions with candidates in the past couple of days.

Former Exeter City and MK Dons manage Paul Tisdale is an odds-on favourite with the bookmakers.

Starnes - who confirmed caretaker manager and head of recruitment Tommy Widdrington is not in contention for the job full-time - believes it is essential the next manager endorses the club’s strategy of developing players from within while playing attractive football.

“We set out our stall as a club with how we want to play,” he said. “When Graham (Coughlan) left, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to produce a more entertaining, attacking style of football and producing young players in the process. Obviously while winning football matches, and we want any new manager to carry on with the same philosophy. That’s mandatory.”

Garner’s staff - assistant manager Jack Mesure, first-team coach Kevin Maher and goalkeeping coach David Coles - will remain in place for the next manager.

Starnes added the club would “certainly resist” a prospective manager’s requests to add to or alter the coaching staff. We are just looking to bring in one person because the coaching staff have done a good job for us.”

Asked when an appointment will be confirmed, Starnes said: “As soon as possible. I’m not going to put a date on it .”