Seven candidates to be the new Rovers manager
BRISTOL Rovers are on the hunt for a new manager following the decision to part company with Darrell Clarke.
The Gas have said they have already started receiving CVs from interested candidates, but who are the ones most likely to take charge? Here are seven managers that could be in the running.
STEVE COTTERILL
THE former Bristol City boss is the bookmakers’ favourite to take over at Rovers. His last managerial spell was an unsuccessful time at Birmingham City, but he did lead Bristol City to promotion from League One before that. He is seen as a manager who can stabilise clubs in trouble, and his coaching career has also seen him in charge of the likes of Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest.
IAN HOLLOWAY
A ROVERS legend who is out of work after leaving QPR in the summer. He said last season’s mid-table finish at Loftus Road was one of the best achievements of a career which also saw him take Blackpool to the Premier League - a claim that could well silence those who feel his best managerial days are behind him. His last few years have been spent managing in the Premier League and Championship - would he want to drop down to League One?
PAUL HURST SACKED by Ipswich Town earlier this season, but he had huge success as a manager before then. He took Grimsby Town into League Two before leading Shrewsbury Town to an unlikely play-off final last season in League One. Seems to be able to get the most out of unfancied clubs, so could work well on a budget for the Gas - and he could well help Stefan Payne recapture the form he showed under Hurst at the Shrews last season, too.
MICHAEL APPLETON ANOTHER one of the frontrunners with the bookies, Appleton departed the coaching set-up at Leicester City earlier this year after serving as both assistant and caretaker manager of the Foxes during his year at the club. Prior to that, he had a successful spell at Oxford United in League One, leading them to promotion to League One and an eighth-placed finish.
GARY BOWYER BOWYER quit as Blackpool manager in August due to the shambolic nature the way the club was run. Considering the lack of investment and chaos surrounding Blackpool, Bowyer’s success at winning promotion from League Two to League One at the first attempt, followed by a solid finish last season, cannot go ignored. Prior to that was a spell in charge of Blackburn Rovers under controversial owners the Venkys. However, with Darrell Clarke having revealed misgivings about the state of Rovers, could Bowyer’s experiences at Blackpool put him off?
DARREN FERGUSON
A HIGHLY-regarded manager in League One following his achievements with Peterborough. Ferguson is no-nonsense and could well spark a revival in the Gas’ fortunes - he was able to win Doncaster Rovers a promotion back to League One at the first attempt following their 2015 relegation. However, he quit Donny in the summer, claiming he had no alternative - would he be happy to work with a restrictive budget at the Gas?
CRAIG BELLAMY
HE does not have managerial experience but works in Cardiff City’s academy. The former Premier League and Wales striker has a wealth of experience in football and agreed to take over at Oxford United in March this year before withdrawing his application. He has impressed with his punditry on Sky Sports but, with no actual experience, giving him the reins during a relegation battle would be a gamble.