Goalless Cheltenham Town appoint ex-Bristol Rovers, Walsall, Port Vale, Salisbury manager Darrell Clarke as their new boss.
The 45 year old, who was most recently manager of League One club Port Vale, started out as a midfielder, launching his career with Mansfield Town in 1995, and spent the first six years of his career, making 173 league and cup appearances.
In 2001, he signed for Hartlepool United, spent another six years there, and made a further 136 appearances before going out on loan to the likes of Stockport County, Port Vale, and Rochdale in the final years of his spell.
In 2007, he left the professional game to sign for Salisbury City, and this is where he took up the management position at the club in 2010, taking the club to promotion into the Conference Premier from the Southern League with two play-off final wins in three seasons.
He was appointed manager of Bristol Rovers in March 2014, but couldn’t stop them from dropping out of the EFL. Though, one year later, Clarke managed to guide Bristol Rovers back into the EFL after winning the 2015 National League playoff final, and then took them League One with promotion out of League Two in 2015–16.
At the time of his departure in December 2018, he had been the fourth-longest serving manager in the Football League, and it wasn’t took long before he was back on the touchline as Walsall came calling in May 2019.
He left the Saddlers in February 2021 to manage League Two rivals Port Vale, where he guided the club to promotion with victory in the 2022 playoff final, before being sacked in April 2023.
September 2023, saw him back in management, with League One’s bottom club Cheltenham, who were goalless in the league upon his appointment, bringing him in.
👋 Evening Darrell #mintmush pic.twitter.com/N3diAh9HKq
— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) September 29, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
Cheltenham Town are thrilled to announce that Darrell Clarke has been appointed first team manager.
The 45-year-old, who was most recently in charge at Port Vale, becomes the club’s 12th permanent Football League manager, following the departure of Wade Elliott last week.
The new Robins boss has signed a two-year-deal at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
Darrell enjoyed an 18-year playing career as a midfielder with the likes of Mansfield Town, Hartlepool United and Salisbury City before moving into management at the Wiltshire outfit.
As player-manger he won two promotions in three years and made history by guiding the club into the FA Cup Third Round for the first time in their history with victory against Grimsby Town.
Another successful spell followed this time with Bristol Rovers. Clarke spent four and a half years at the Memorial Stadium, this time winning back-to-back promotions.
He then took over at Walsall before moving to Vale Park, where he won a fifth promotion of his managerial career via the League Two play-offs at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
Darrell will be at Sincil Bank tomorrow, watching his new side from the stands before taking charge of his first game against Fleetwood Town on Tuesday evening.
We will bring you the first interview with Darrell from Seasons on Monday morning, before formally unveiling him alongside our principal partners, Mira Showers, later in the day.
Welcome to Cheltenham, Darrell!
This is what fans had to say as goalless Cheltenham appoint ex-Bristol Rovers, Walsall, Port Vale, Salisbury manager Darrell Clarke…
@darrell_ben: Great to see Darrell back in management. A real top bloke who will get the best out of every player. Tough ask to keep Cheltenham up but wish him all the best for the season. UTG
@Belch_CTFC: What a handsome bastard 😍
@BRFCBill: A top class man and manager. Tells you a lot that’s he’s loved by the fans of every club he’s been at (bar Walsall). Best of luck Darrell 👍
@ethanwwatson: He’s a handsome one ain’t he
@JCON_93: I love you so much Darrell
@MattMS_YouTube: I love you x
@harrytherobin: love you already x
@ShawnHa47487632: Cushty Dazza all the best mush
@JRBrown590: I’ve been openly critical of the board and there’s still things im not impressed however, that’s a great appointment. Fair play to the board on this one – it appears a very smart decision #CTFC
@tttkksc: WE’RE WINNING THE LEAGUE (I would take not being relegated)
@PVFClh2142: We love you darrell 🥹⚫️⚪️❤️
@rhys1322: DARRELL CLARKES RED ARMYYYYY
@chxrlie67: a proper gaffer i am dreaming 😍😍
@CTFC_2012: let’s goooooooooooooooooooo #ctfc
@JWxttsy: He’s here & he’s fucking perfect 🤩
@Hoppo101: Let’s have it.
@TheValiants1876: Feel sick #PVFC #CTFC
@PatFloyd1989: Go smash it Dazzler
@anniema31852105: what a handsome guy 😍😂
@samcrumpl3r_: Until Darrell I was never happy 😍
@seanbaker87: Sounds really enthusiastic 🤣
Darrell Clarke reds 🔴 #ctfc pic.twitter.com/0NuTAgTNVT
— hEaLeR (@ctfc_hEaLeR) September 29, 2023
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