After Graham Coughlan left Bristol Rovers for Mansfield Town this week, we’ve taken a look at who are the bookies favourites to become the Pirates’ next boss.
Chief executive Martyn Starnes told BBC Points West on Tuesday that they hoped to make an appointment by the end of the weekend, though that looks unlikely.
Former Stoke and Luton boss, Nathan Jones, has already turned down the opportunity to work with Rovers who say they ideally want a manager with solid experience of managing in League One, preferably with promotion on their CV, a defined identity in how they want to a team to play. Take a look at who are the top six favourites below and on the next page.
6) BEN GARNER
Ben Garner is a UEFA Pro Licence professional football who has been mentored by Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, previously an assistant head coach at West Brom and first team coach at Crystal Palace.
Most recently he was assistant head coach under Steve Coppell at ATK in the Indian Super League.
Back in 2018, Garner was reported to have turned down the opportunity to become manager of Bradford City over a lack of assurances over control of the team. In December 2018, Rickie Lambert described Garner as “very organised, but imaginative, and had a great understanding of players” when suggesting him for the manager’s job at Bristol Rovers, something he was interviewed for in January.
Current odds on Sky Bet: 10/1
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Ben Garner linked with vacant Bristol Rovers job— Gary Jones (@bradman1967) December 17, 2018
5) MARK COOPER
Mark Cooper is the current manager of Forest Green Rovers who sit 6th in the League Two table.
He's been at the club since 2016 when guided them to National League promotion in 2017.
They were defeated by Tranmere Rovers at the semi final stage of the League Two playoffs for the 2018/19 season.
Forest Green are no doubt contenders for promotion again this season and we're fairly confident that Dale Vince would do everything to keep him.
The ex Bristol City youth player has also managed Notts County, Swindon Town and Peterborough United amongst many other non league sides.
Current Bristol Rovers boss odds on Sky Bet: 3/1
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4) PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM
Paul Heckingbottom has been out of work since he was sacked by Scottish side Hibernian in November 2019 after he won one of their first 11 league matches in the 2019/20 season.
He was appointed in February 2019 and went on an unbeaten run, won the Premiership manager of the month award for March and then finished in fifth position, but Heckingbottom wasn't happy that the team "downed tools" in the last few matches of the season.
Previous to that, he was manager of Leeds United and Barnsley.
His record:
Barnsley (caretaker) - 12 February 2015 until 25 February 2015 - 3 games, 2 won, 0 drew, 1 lost, 66.67win %
Barnsley (caretaker) - 6 February 2016 until 15 June 2016 - 22 games, 14 won, 5 drew, 3 lost, 63.64win %
Barnsley - 15 June 2016 until 6 February 2018 - 83 games, 23 won, 23 drew, 37 lost, 27.71win %
Leeds United - 6 February 2018 until 1 June 2018 - 16 games, 4 won, 4 drew, 8 lost, 25.00win %
Hibernian - 13 February 2019 until 4 November 2019 - 32 games, 11 won, 12 drew, 9 lost, 34.38% win
Current Bristol Rovers boss odds on Sky Bet: 3/1
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Take a look at the top three favourites on the next page.
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