Clarke runs out of Gas as Rovers part company with manager
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Bristol Rovers will have a new manager in the dugout tomorrow after sensationally parting company with manager Darrell Clarke ahead of this weekend’s trip to Sunderland.
First-team coach Graham Coughlan will take caretaker charge of the Gas after Clarke and assistant, former Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart, left the club yesterday.
Clarke had managed the club for the last six years and guided the club to promotion from the Conference and League Two.
But a run of four consecutive league defeats has seen The Gas drop into the relegation zone, following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Doncaster last time out.
A club statement read: “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,” the club said.
“Darrell leaves the club with immediate effect and on amicable terms.”
Stewart, who played more than 100 times for Sunderland between 2002 and 2005, could have been in charge against his old club tomorrow but then asked to leave Rovers in the aftermath of Clarke’s departure.
A statement added: “With Darrell Clarke departing his role as manager of Bristol Rovers FC, Graham Coughlan will take temporary charge of the team commencing with the game at Sunderland on Saturday.
“Assistant manager Marcus Stewart has asked to be released from his contract and the club have reluctantly agreed, therefore he leaves by mutual consent.
“The board is expecting substantial interest in the vacant manager’s role and an appointment will be made as soon as practicable.”
The early favourite for the job is another ex-Sunderland man, Steve Cotterill, who was sacked after just 27 games at the club as Howard Wilkinson’s assistant.
Clarke, a former Hartlepool United hero, was critical of his players after the Doncaster defeat, saying: “Obviously Donny were feeling confident and passing it around, making us look silly. It’s not good enough.”
He also pointed out the problems following a recent board meeting, where Clarke was told no progress had been made over the club’s promised new stadium and training ground.
However, he insisted he wouldn’t walk away from the job, though he admitted he was under-achieving.
“I’m being honest now, they try and tell me different, but I can’t see the training ground or stadium happening any time,” said Clarke after the Doncaster defeat.
“I’m manager and, for me, I think it’s the other way. There’s going to be cuts.
“Listen, I’m saying that as an underachieving manager, I have a mid-table budget in League One and I ain’t succeeded this year, I’m underachieving.
“In the last two years I’ve had a bottom six, bottom eight, budget and we’ve overachieved.
“This year I’m underachieving as a manager and I’ll take that. My signings haven’t been good enough, without a shadow of a doubt I ain’t shirking responsibility, but it still needs that backing, pushing, facilities to move forward and we’re still in the same place.
“People think I have a problem with the board, I don’t have a problem with the board, I just tell them exactly how it is.
“I don’t go and shirk away in the boardroom, I tell them it’s not good enough, the club’s going backwards. I said that to them yesterday. It is because we’re fourth-bottom on the pitch but it’s going backwards because nothing’s happening.
“I don’t think anyone would blame me for walking out the door, would they? I’m a fighter, my pride doesn’t let me do that. You’ve just fought all your life.”