Coach Bond ‘surprised’ to stay at Rovers

BRISTOL Rovers first-team coach Kevin Bond has admitted he was “somewhat surprised” to be asked to continue at the club by new boss Matt Taylor – but is enjoying being back with the Pirates after his first spell ended in October 2022, writes Daniel Hargraves.

Bond returned to Rovers in November after being asked by then-caretaker boss Andy Mangan to help assist with coaching duties on a part-time basis, but stayed on when the club decided to appoint Taylor instead of handing Mangan the role on a full-time basis following Joey Barton’s sacking in October.

Prior to Taylor’s confirmation as the new Pirates boss, Mangan and coaches Danny Ventre and Glenn Whelan left the club, while the new manager did not bring any coaching staff with him, therefore promoting academy manager Byron Anthony and coach Steve Tully on a temporary basis to help assist with the firstteam. Bond was also asked to continue at the club and be part of the 41-year-old’s staff and of course obliged.

Former Bristol City, Sunderland and Hibernian assistant manager

Jamie McAllister has since joined Taylor’s coaching staff, but the boss did not rule out adding another individual when asked last week.

In Bond, however, Rovers are fortunate to have a man with such experience in the game having coached at Tottenham, Newcastle and Portsmouth, as well as boasting an impressive playing career, but the 66-year-old revealed he did not expect to stay on at the club after Mangan’s departure.

Speaking in Taylor’s absence on Thursday, with the boss in hospital with his wife ahead of the birth of their second child, Bond said: “It was Mangs who asked me originally. Joey had left and Mangs was made caretaker and obviously at a club like Bristol Rovers would’ve really liked to have been given an opportunity.

“Mangs without a shadow of a doubt has a bright future in football and was the reason why I came back because they were short of bodies with Joey leaving and he asked me if I would come back for that period of time which I was happy to do. I thought he was unlucky really because I thought he did very well.

“Anyway, it wasn’t to be and Matt was happy to talk with me. I must be honest, I was somewhat surprised (to stay on), but now obviously everybody is looking forward to the future.”

Rovers play away to Barnsley this afternoon.