Bristol Rovers Reappoint Darrell Clarke After League Two Relegation

Bristol Rovers have appointed Darrell Clarke as their new head coach following their relegation to League Two and the departure of Inigo Calderon and other coaching staff, including first-team coach Dave Horseman. Clarke, who previously managed the club from 2014 to 2018, led Rovers to back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One and is seen as the preferred candidate to restore the club's fortunes. Since leaving Rovers, Clarke has managed several clubs, including Walsall, Port Vale—where he secured promotion from League Two in 2022—Cheltenham Town, and Barnsley. He signed a three-year contract upon his return and expressed pride and determination to rebuild the team and inspire the fanbase ahead of the 2025/26 season. Director of Football Ricky Martin emphasized Clarke's experience and compatibility with the club's ambitions as key factors in his appointment. The club aims to quickly regroup and mount a promotion challenge under Clarke's leadership.