New Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor was asked last week about his plans for his coaching staff at the club
New Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor has clarified that he will be working with the coaches in place at the club when he was appointed, but could be open to bringing a new face in with question marks surrounding who is assistant will be.
After Joey Barton’s dismissal and five weeks of conjecture, the former manager of Rotherham United and Exeter City was named the next man in charge at the Mem. During that period, former assistant manager Andy Mangan gained interim control of the seven games, however he has since departed the team.
Former Rovers coach Kevin Bond came back to the team on a part-time basis to support Mangan in directing the team. Bond was reportedly serving as the former temporary boss’ No. 2, offering guidance and assistance when needed. After being a member of the coaching staff that assisted in leading the team to an instant return to League One following their relegation to League Two in the 2020–2021 season, the former coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and Portsmouth departed the Gas in October 2022.
Prior to Bond’s return, Danny Ventre, Glenn Whelan and Anssi Jaakkola (goalkeeping coach) were the other first-team coaches and are understood to still be in their roles as well as head of sports science Tom Short.
Ventre and Whelan were brought into the club by Barton ahead of the 2022/23 season with the latter registered as a player after being part of the side that helped Rovers secure promotion back to League One.
When questioned about his backroom staff and if it will start to look different during his first interview with local media on Friday, Taylor responded, “No, I’m working with the coaches which are currently in place at the football club.”
“Obviously, there’s been previous departures four or five weeks ago and a few more in the last 24 hours. One thing I will say, Andy and his staff have done a fantastic job and that’s with me not being in it and not observing first hand. I’ve obviously watched the last couple of games, but that’s in a cold nature, in a comfortable position in my house so it’s never quite the same as being on the touchline.
“So to give the club stability hasn’t gone unnoticed and it’s hugely appreciated and I need to get that out there because the fans need to recognise that and appreciate the staff who might not be with us anymore, but the work they’ve certainly done to keep the club going in the right direction and then give us a chance to build on top of it.”
Quizzed on whether a new face or two could come in in the near-future, the Gas boss added: “Happy with what we’ve got right now, but you always need more help and if you can get the ones you know of and trust, then even better.”
With it still very much early days in Taylor’s tenure in BS7, there has been no indication as of yet as to when a new face could be added or who they may be. However, the question circulating amongst Gasheads currently is whether or not the new manager may approach his assistant at Rotherham and Exeter, Wayne Carlisle, to join him at Rovers where he was a player in the early noughties.
The now-44-year-old sported the blue-and-white quarters from 2002 to 2004, making over 70 appearances for the Gas as a versatile midfielder before joining Leyton Orient.
At the time of writing, Carlisle is still in place as Rotherham’s caretaker manager but there is uncertainty over his future at the club with the Millers seemingly keen on hiring former Southampton and Luton Town boss Nathan Jones who is believed to have been a name pondered by Bristol Rovers when searching for their new manager. The Welshman was in attendance at St. Andrew’s on Saturday to watch the Millers’ goalless draw with Birmingham City.
Asked about Taylor’s appointment at Rovers before the game, Carlisle said, as quoted by the Rotherham Advertiser , “I haven’t spoken to him since he took the job.
“I am sure he will be flat out getting stuck into things. He is a very hard worker. I know his head will be in games and watching games. I am sure I will catch up with him at some point in the future.”
Taylor will take charge of his first game as Rovers manager on Tuesday evening at Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy round of 32 which should give a stronger indication of who amongst the current backroom staff is playing which role.
