Stevenage confirm appointment of former Exeter, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers manager

Stevenage confirm the appointment of former Exeter, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers manager Paul Tisdale with the club struggling in League Two.

He takes over from Alex Revell, who was removed from the role on the 14th of November and his first game in charge of the club, who are 21st in the fourth tier, will be against Sutton United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Tisdale spent 12 years in charge of Exeter, during which time he led them to League One from the National League, and he also won promotion to the third tier with MK Dons.

Stevenage made an approach to Gillingham to speak to their manager Steve Evans, over a week ago but were turned down.

Welcome to Stevenage Football Club, Paul Tisdale. pic.twitter.com/ljf4pDPi7F

— Stevenage FC 🔴⚪ (@StevenageFC) November 28, 2021

Stevenage Football Club confirms Paul Tisdale has been appointed First Team Manager and will take over from Monday 29th November, with Mel Gwinnett joining as his assistant…

Tisdale has managed a total of 717 games for professional clubs, including twelve years as manager of Exeter City where he managed the team to promotion to the EFL and promotion to League One, as well as League Two Play Off finals in 2017 and 2018.

In June 2018, he was appointed manager of MK Dons, where he won promotion to League One in his first season, before his contract was terminated the following season.

A short stay as manager of Bristol Rovers began in November 2020 and ended in February 2021. Subsequently, Tisdale joined Colchester United in an advisory role in April 2021 and played a significant part in a revival that saw Colchester finish comfortably safe in League Two.

Chairman Phil Wallace said: “We needed to bring EFL experience and a fresh start into our Club, so Paul fits that perfectly. He had an impressive twelve years at Exeter and was recognized as one of the brightest managers in the game, so his move to MK Dons and a promotion in his first season was not a surprise.

He has developed a long line of talented players at Exeter that have moved up to higher levels. We have got a good squad of players and we are looking forward to Paul creating a winning environment. We have funds available to strengthen in January if Paul feels we need to do that”.

Twitter users reacted as Stevenage confirm appointment of former Exeter, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers manager…

@dharvey4: Paul couldn’t get his Exeter team motivated @ Wembley against Coventry in the playoff final.

@JonecfcSmith: Good luck Paul Tisdale just not against us #UTC

@lionmaskpod: Don’t think it had anything to do with motivation. You were simply better than us. You surely can’t believe that professional footballers can’t be arsed for one of the biggest games in their careers?

@MrDKeegan: Whether people like it or not, it’s time to get behind the manager again. Welcome to the Boro, Tizzy

@Kieran_J_Hart: I’m very happy with that appointment, it make sense.

@Jakeygraupner: Interesting change of approach. Looks like no more the flat’at? Hope he fits better with you than he did at the #gas

@NiallTDuffy: I suspect I will be in a minority of #ECFC fans, but I think Tis is a great manager. Thoughtful, intelligent, astute and adept at making the best of what he’s given. Good luck to him, @StevenageFC and Ryan Harley who will undoubtedly be offered a contract.

@darrell_ben: Baffling how this bloke still gets Managerial roles in football. Be lucky if you lads stay up tbh

@kaisbfc: Getting to wembley. Going to lose tho.

@Florida_man76: Let’s go and make Stevenage great again! 💪🏾

@jordanpomeroy00: Im actually really really pleased with this appointment

@PeatedPete: Happy with that!

@knight_pete: Welcome to Boro and good luck Tizzy! Thanks to Robbie O’Keefe for doing an excellent interim job!

@ncarowland: Well that’s another manager to dislike and wish failure upon

@borojason: Think that’s a very good appointment at boro hopefully he does well here has got a lot of experience in football league. 🔴⚪️

@HonestFootball3: Given the style of the club, the type of players currently contracted and the teams that have given Paul success, this could be a match made in heaven. Seems a lot of negativity around it, but we think this could work out really well! #stevenagefc #EFL #tisdale

@SFC_Copey: Could have done a lot worse. Up the Boro

@Jamie_Hudson_: All those people who told me we couldn’t get him in because he clearly would get something better, you were wrong #ColU

@AjaxReloadedAlt: Should’ve been ours at col u if not for cowlings arrogance #ColU

@SC961211: Don’t like him for pretty obvious reasons but that’s a great appointment for Stevenage

@Matty_pvfc: Hahaha roll on non league

@SFC_Interviews: Very happy with this appointment because of his experience in the Football League, welcome to the Boro Paul Tisdale and assistant Mel Gwinnett

@natgoodladlwos: They’re either going on a play-off charge or will finish bottom. No in-between

@mark_l04: Did ok for us but never good enough for anything more than to bounce back up. Nothing against him but don’t see him taking another team up, just doesn’t look up to it

@graeme_marshall: Didn’t think he’d get another job in the FL to be honest. Bit ironic as it was a game at Stevenage where the relationship with the Exeter fans really turned sour

@grecian1901: We’ve always hated Stevenage, especially since that nonsense a few years back… this is just another reason to hate them. Oh and a past manager also told me to f**k off for (very politely) highlighting to him that his rear tyre on his Bentley was bold and in a really bad state!

@jayycoles: stevenage getting promoted with tisdale, heard it here first

@JoshuaCrysell: Missed opportunity @ColU_Official

@MarshLukeW: What on Earth are we playing at here? @Official_HUFC

@LifeWithJames1: Oooh that is a good appointment for them especially if they get the Exeter Tisdale

@a_cheevers6: Best of an unappealing bunch is the best way to describe this imo. IF it’s until the end of the season, then that’s fine by me.