Pearson is new boss at Ashton Gate

departure for club owner Steve Lansdown in terms of the type of manager he has wanted.

Former head coach Lee Johnson was brought in following Steve Cotterill in January 2016 as very much a long-term project who could grow and develop in tandem with the club.

That thought-process continued with Holden last summer, along with the spectre of Covid-19 and the devastating financial effect throughout football, but it is clear matters have reached the point where there has been a definite change in approach.

Pearson possesses almost 500 games of managerial experience across 11 clubs including in the Premier League, and he won the Championship with Leicester in 2013/14.

The 57-year-old made 139 appearances for tonight’s opponents Boro between 1994 and 1998 before retiring as a player and turning to coaching.

City chief executive Mark Ashton said: “Nigel is a respected and experienced manager with a proven track record of success and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the club.”

Chairman Jon Lansdown added: “The immediate priority for Nigel and the coaching team is to stop the current bad run and move us back up the table.”

Elsewhere this evening, League One strugglers Swindon have an away game against high-flying Lincoln, while Cheltenham clash with fellow promotion challengers Cambridge in League Two.

In the National League, Yeovil have something of a derby game at home to Weymouth.