Bristol Rovers confirm appointment of new manager after sacking Joey Barton

Bristol Rovers confirm the appointment of their new manager in Matt Taylor, on a three-and-half year deal, after sacking Joey Barton.

Taylor endured a 13 month stay with Rotherham United before he was axed on the 13th of November with the club sitting 22nd in the Championship standings.

Taylor, 41, also previously guided Exeter to promotion to League One for the 2021/22 campaign, but is now tasked with helping Rovers made a push for the playoff places.

Barton departed the club on the 26th of October after nearly three years in charge with his side sitting 16th in the third tier.

Since then, they had been in temporary control under Andy Mangan, helping Bristol Rovers climb up to 11th.

✍️ Matt Taylor announced as Bristol Rovers Manager.

Click below to read the full story. ⬇️

— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) December 1, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT

Bristol Rovers are delighted to announce Matt Taylor as the new First Team Manager on a three and a half-year contract.

Taylor has enjoyed a healthy playing career having spells at Exeter, Charlton and Cheltenham before switching to the touchline.

Matt had a successful time when managing Exeter achieving promotion from League Two and most recently has managed Rotherham in the Championship.

Matt will take training on Friday and will manage the team on Saturday as we face Crewe in the Second Round of the FA Cup.

As part of this change, Andy Mangan will be leaving his role at the club. Everyone associated with the club would like to wish Andy all the success in the future.

Rovers Chairman Hussain Al-Saeed said: “We are delighted today to announce the appointment of Matt Taylor as our First Team Manager. We would like to thank our fans for being patient with us throughout this thorough process whilst we identified the correct person to lead us in this new era for Bristol Rovers. Matt shared our visions of growing the club and has bought into our project. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Matt to the club and wishing him every success.”

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andy Mangan for all of his efforts during his time as Interim Manager. We are confident that he will go on to have a successful career as a football manager and he will always be welcome here.”

🎙️ “He’s a great manager. He’s done great things, especially at Exeter, and I can’t see why he couldn’t do that with Bristol Rovers…”

Former Rovers defender Tom Parkes chats to us about the appointment of Matt Taylor. They worked together for two years at Exeter. pic.twitter.com/39TablJ7Eg

— BBC Sport Bristol (@bbcbristolsport) December 1, 2023

This is how fans have reacted as Bristol Rovers confirm the appointment of their new manager after sacking Joey Barton…

@The_RUFC: Terrible appointment, he’ll curse all your players’ hamstrings and make referees cheat you, all while being a very handsome and likeable bloke.

@BRFCBill: Welcome Matt. Looks an exciting appointment. Again, want to just say thank you to Andy Mangan. We will miss having you at the Gas. Been nothing but a class act, who I wish nothing but the absolute best for.

@Bristoliang1en: Welcome to the Gas, Matt! All the best to Mangs who has done a decent job since Joey’s departure.

@Jed_e07: Took your time ⌛ Onwards and upwards, Gas!

@hayden1883: 🎶 We’ve got super Matt Taylor 🎶

@calcology: Fully get behind him gasheads! It won’t be plain sailing but this is a good football man and can take us places.

@darrell_ben: New manager. New coaches, new identity. Wish Mangan all the best but this is the right decision from the board. Total clear out and a new set of faces will get no doubt get these players going again. UTG

@Ryann_BRFC_95: Certainly took us long enough but brilliant appointment, rate this highly, welcome Matt

@Rufcjoe87: Genuinely wish him the best. Think he would have come good for us. Suspect he’ll have a better next few years than we will 😂. He’ll come good in the right conditions. All the best Matt. #rufc #brfc

@iamhighlystrung: Solid appointment. Decent CV. Not sure the criticism of not making a quick appointment stands now – Taylor didn’t become available until 3 weeks into the search.

@SteveHutsonCGE: I’ll say it. I’m no so convinced by this appt. Doesn’t feel like it fits the criteria we were promised. But I’m more than happy to be proved wrong and will back this manager as I back all managers at firs

@deano_rufc: Best of luck to him. Can see him doing a good job at that level.

@JL_rufc: Wish him all the best. Will no doubt be keeping an eye out for their results now. 🤝🏻

@DanielShepps: Big fan of a long contract, definitely the right choice for me, worth the wait ⛽️

@TVickers1: Great move for Matt, deserved a shot at championship level but unfortunately Rotherham a very tough club to manage and get right. Great knowledge of League 1 and I’m confident he’ll get Rovers in and around the play offs in the New Year, a club that also has ambition.

@Craigutg: So it’s Matt Taylor 👍 Welcome to the Gas. Top six and a Cup run and I will be be proven wrong #BristolRovers #UTG. Let’s see what he can do then. All starts at Crewe 💙

@ECous37: Wish him nothing but the best up there!