Former Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield is among the leading names being tipped for the vacant Bristol Rovers job, with the League Two club moving quickly to identify a successor following the departure of Darrell Clarke.
Rovers confirmed Clarke’s exit at the weekend after Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Swindon Town, a result that extended the club’s losing run to ten matches and left them sitting 23rd in the League Two table. The Gas were relegated from League One last season and have struggled to arrest the slide during the opening months of the current campaign.
In a brief statement, the club confirmed that Clarke and assistant Jon Stead had left with immediate effect, thanking both for their efforts and confirming that the recruitment process for a new head coach was already underway. No timeframe has been put on the appointment, but the expectation is that Rovers will move swiftly with a crucial period of the season looming.
Former Northampton boss Jon Brady has quickly emerged as one of the standout candidates being talked about in connection with the role. The Australian-born coach left Northampton Town earlier this year and has been open about his desire to return to management. His previous work at Sixfields, where he oversaw promotion to League One and helped stabilise the club both on and off the pitch, has kept his name prominent whenever vacancies arise in the EFL.
There is also a layer of narrative to Brady’s potential appointment. He was in charge of the Cobblers during the 2021-22 season when Northampton narrowly missed out on promotion in dramatic fashion, finishing just behind Bristol Rovers on goal difference after a big win for the Gas against Scunthorpe United. That campaign remains one of the most talked-about finishes in recent League Two history and adds extra intrigue to the links now developing.
He is not the only experienced name being discussed, however. Matt Bloomfield, formerly of Wycombe Wanderers and Luton Town, is also understood to be under consideration. Bloomfield’s coaching pedigree, particularly his work in player development and tactical structure, would appeal to a club looking to rebuild quickly while maintaining long-term stability.
Veteran manager Steve Evans has also been mentioned in connection with the role. Evans’ extensive experience across the EFL, particularly in promotion battles and relegation fights, makes him a familiar option whenever clubs find themselves in urgent need of results.
Whoever takes the job will inherit a side short on confidence and facing an immediate challenge to climb away from the bottom end of the table. Rovers are back in action on Friday night when they host Crewe Alexandra, a fixture that could come too soon for a new appointment but underlines the urgency of the situation.