Bristol Rovers have managed to strike an agreement for a new manager with the club set to announce the new man within the next 48 hours.
The club currently sit 19th in the League One table, taking a total of 27 points from 28 games played, and looked to be firmly in a relegation battle.
Joey Barton has been in talks with them since the start of last week with discussions over the club’s long-term strategy among a number of issues that required sorting.
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It’s believed that a breakthrough had been made with Barton set to be installed as Paul Tisdale’s replacement.
The 38-year-old former Fleetwood boss is said to have been offered the job during the week and details have now been agreed on, with just an official signing needed to be completed.
It will be the third manager in charge of the Gas on a permanent basis this season, with Ben Garner starting out the season at the Memorial Stadium.
The ex-West Brom first-team coach departed in November after less than a year in charge, and he was replaced by experienced ex-MK Dons and Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale, who failed miserably, who’d have thought it ay?
Tisdale won just three out of 15 league games before being axed earlier in the month.
Head of recruitment Tommy Widdrington has been on caretaker duty since his dismissal and will remain in charge of first-team affairs until a successor is appointed – fans also were pleading that he wouldn’t be appointed.
Barton is without a club after he was dismissed from his post at Fleetwood Town on the 4th of January following disagreements with Ched Evans and owner Andy Pilley.
The ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder won 54 of his 128 matches in charge of the Cod Army and led the club to the League One playoff places last season.
However, Fleetwood missed out on promotion after a 6-3 aggregate loss to Wycombe Wanderers in the semi finals.
He has spoken of his desire to manage Newcastle one day, as he revealed what went wrong at Fleetwood.
“When you leave and it doesn’t go so well you think you’ve been removed for the wrong reasons,” he said.
“He was the brilliant (the chairman). He gave me an enormous opportunity probably when no-one else in world football would. It was always going to be difficult to get an opportunity with my rap sheet. In my mind I was going to go in with Dyche-y (at Burnley) and do an apprenticeship.”
Barton said that he left Fleetwood after feeling owner and chairman Andy Pilley wanted to dictate transfer and team matters. He said they both didn’t speak for ten days before he was fired and there became a “disconnect”.
Explaining what led to his departure, he said: “The chairman was good as gold (at first) in that he didn’t force his opinion on me as a senior chairman and he let me make a few of my own decisions in terms of transfers – some good, some bad, some indifferent. We finished in the play-offs in the second season.
Barton is without a club after he was dismissed from his post at Fleetwood Town on the 4th of January following disagreements with Ched Evans and owner Andy Pilley.
The ex-Manchester City and Newcastle midfielder won 54 of his 128 matches in charge of the Cod Army and led the club to the League One playoff places last season.
However, Fleetwood missed out on promotion after a 6-3 aggregate loss to Wycombe Wanderers in the semi finals.
He has spoken of his desire to manage Newcastle one day, as he revealed what went wrong at Fleetwood.
“When you leave and it doesn’t go so well you think you’ve been removed for the wrong reasons,” he said.
“He was the brilliant (the chairman). He gave me an enormous opportunity probably when no-one else in world football would. It was always going to be difficult to get an opportunity with my rap sheet. In my mind I was going to go in with Dyche-y (at Burnley) and do an apprenticeship.”
Barton said that he left Fleetwood after feeling owner and chairman Andy Pilley wanted to dictate transfer and team matters. He said they both didn’t speak for ten days before he was fired and there became a “disconnect”.
Explaining what led to his departure, he said: “The chairman was good as gold (at first) in that he didn’t force his opinion on me as a senior chairman and he let me make a few of my own decisions in terms of transfers – some good, some bad, some indifferent. We finished in the play-offs in the second season.
“We came back this time and were trying to rebuild the side and I think what happened was he went into a transfer embargo (he took out an £800,000 loan from the EFL because of coronavirus). A few players were at the end of their cycle – Ched Evans, I’d had enough of him. He just wasn’t performing on the pitch and I felt we needed to improve in that position.
“When I went to speak to him, he let me know about the embargo which was a lot longer after it had happened than I felt I should have known about it. He said ‘We’re not going to go in the market or come out of the embargo’. For me I felt to get in the play-offs, and that’s what I wanted to do – I want to manage in the Premier League, we all do, that’s where I played.
“Where we were, eight points out of the play-offs if we get a couple of bodies in we’ll be there or thereabouts. We don’t need Sergio Aguero but he disagreed and felt we should have gone with the younger players. I was trying to say ‘They’re young players, we’re growing them but they’re not ready yet’.
“It got to the point where we both couldn’t be right.”
Barton also said there were disagreements about signing a new contract. “Six weeks before I was sacked I was offered a three year extension (in December) and I said ‘All my staff are on three months’ termination’. Can you sort that out? If you do I’ll sort a new deal,” he explained.
He added that was not resolved either, which led to a breakdown.
Fans reacted as Bristol Rovers strike an agreement for a new manager in Joey Barton…
here we goooo🤪some people are way too upset about this😂can we not just judge him on what he’s being hired to do which is manage our team instead of it being all about his past??? strange https://t.co/TKV6D4Ktgw
— mya (@myahillier_) February 21, 2021
#BristolRovers https://t.co/fLAHHyte57 pic.twitter.com/akeEVthPMI
— barter (@harr_barter) February 21, 2021
@_JoeWilkins: The king is coming, up the shagging gas
@cazjmay: Can’t lie – I always looked forward to playing Fleetwood when he was in charge. The man is savage with a bad reputation but also a very intelligent manager. It’ll cause massive controversy but if it saves us from relegation then bring it on imo.
@WillScrivin99: inject it into my veins
@BRFClewis: Let’s get to work Gaffa @Joey7Barton
@LP1194: This could well be a new era of vintage Bristol Rovers. I can’t wait.
@raddersss: Joey Barton’s shithousing blues
@davidarberry98: All aboard the Barton train then
@bigusrobus: How long before Joey Barton starts talking Bristolian?
@AndrewHaskins85: JOEY BARTON’S SHITHOUSE ARMY!! Ding ding… Round 1…
@donaldcoke: We got a hooligan joey barton in charge of my club Bristol Rovers sad day. UTG
@JakeB2021: Can you shag a tweet?
@RNelly__: Buzzing!
@doobyferkin: joey barton’s grievous bodily harm blues
@Brainer_Gas_87: If it is Joey Barton, then I am fully behind the appointment, could be the kick up the ass this squad needs
@dazzamac73: I’m sorry, I just cannot support this!
@SimonDGould: A complete disaster and will end in tears before the year is out!
@AlanAlanrogers1: I hope he gets a really strong judge to bang him up
@tucker_brendan: Works for me, although some will disagree, we have a manger who def knows his stuff, knows the division, knows the players and hopefully knows how to get us out of this hole!!! #UTG
@Oldgschicken: Wonderful. What an end to the weekend.
@hargravegas: So as well as bringing in a Thug who is currently awaiting another Trial, we get his Team including one who was part of a betting scandal. Let’s not forget previous homophobic comments either. Reformed? Unlikely #StayClassy @Official_BRFC #LostThePlot
@Georgeduggz: Barton manager and golf back on the 8th. What a Sunday
@fccowman: Honestly didn’t think wael had it in him! Fair play
@jessxnoble: at the end of the day, I think he’s the bloke to keep us up and we can’t ask for anymore than that
@ConnorCarter_: Proper risky appointment but I’ll get behind the team as usual and I’m hoping we can get out of the mess we are in #UTG
@Callum_1883: Big, big statement of intent that from the board
@HM_Collier: #BRFC were much better than when we played them earlier on this season & I think they’ll stay up. I’m sure Hanlan will get some criticism but he’s a good player at this level and a real handful. If Rovers appoint Barton they’ll stay up – no question!
@iamhighlystrung: My football club is an absolute embarrassment.
@mattjonesutg: wouldn’t have been my first choice with his history, but certainly doesn’t mean i won’t be behind him every step of the way. joey barton’s shithouse blues
@JamesUTG: It’s the hope that kills you
@DanJBalll: If the rumors are to be believed and Joey Barton has agreed terms, I for one think his character is exactly what Rovers need right now! #utg
@Jordan_BRFC: Joey Barton it is. Let’s fucking do it then I guess
@gasball1883: Joey Barton will probably be better than the last two and hopefully a couple of wins in people will calm down and JB will keep his nose clean. Onwards and upwards.
@neilcartwright1: So….. it sounds like we have joey Barton on board…… happy with that
@DaveOufc: Poor buggers
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