Clarke linked to pair of managerial vacancies
BRISTOL Rovers manager Graham Coughlan has explained the thinking and motivation behind sending midfielder Sam Matthews out on loan.
Matthews, 22, joined the Gas in the summer from Premier League Bournemouth, and made 21 firstteam appearances in the league and cup over the first half of the season.
However, the diminutive but skillful winger has struggled for game time since Coughlan replaced Darrell Clarke as manager in December and has played just 141 minutes under the Irishman, making two substitute appearances in League One and playing a full 90 minutes in a 2-1 win at Northampton Town in the Checkatrade Trophy. Having not featured for the Pirates since January 19, in the 1-0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers, the midfielder was sent out on loan last week to National League side Eastleigh for the rest of the season.
Coughlan said: “Sam is a very, very technical player. He is a very good player and he is a great kid as well. I felt he was getting frustrated with his lack of game time, with his lack of match time, so I just felt I had to give him that opportunity to play. “Like I say the ball is in the players’ court. If they want to go out on loan to ply their trade elsewhere I can’t really stop that. I don’t want to have unhappy players.” Coughlan has made no secret of the fact he believes strong powerful players are needed to win the fight as Rovers look to battle it out and move away from the relegation zone in League One. To get the job done he brought in combative midfielder Abu Ogogo and big striker Jonson Clarke-Harris in January. And it has worked with Rovers now 15th. A formation change in recent weeks, which has seen Coughlan opt for a narrow diamond in midfield, has also harmed Matthews chances of reclaiming a place in the starting 11 as it leaves little room for a player of his ilk.
Coughlan added: “I have gone a little bit more robust, a little bit stronger, a little bit bigger, more muscle and brawn.”
Matthews has previously had two successful spells with Eastleigh and in 2017/2018 was voted both players’ player and player of the season at the club.
Matthews departure means he is now the third player former manager Clarke signed in the last two windows who has been dispatched, with Kyle Bennett at Swindon Town and Stefan Payne back at Shrewsbury Town. DARRELL Clarke has been linked with two EFL clubs. The 41-year-old has been out of a job since leaving Bristol Rovers in December, but could soon be set for a return to football if the bookies are to be believed.
Both Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United sacked their managers on Sunday, and bookies yesterday had him high up in the betting for both jobs.
The former Gas boss is 4/1 jointsecond favourite to replace Darren Way at the Glovers. Way had been in charge at Huish Park since December 2015 and had signed a new contract until 2021 in November, with the club seeming set for a mid-table finish. Yet they have struggled since then, losing 10 out of 12 matches, and now sit just two points above the relegation zone.
Caretaker manager Neale Marmon and former Shrewsbury Town boss Paul Hurst are the two people above Clarke in the betting.
Clarke has also been linked with replacing Stuart McCall at Scunthorpe United. The League One strugglers have placed Andy Dawson in charge until the end of the season, but Clarke is jointfourth favourite to take the role next season.
He was yesterday given odds of 14/1, the same as former Hull City boss Phil Brown. Yet Hurst seems heavy favourite for the job with odds of 1/2.