Darrell Clarke has completed a shock return to Bristol Rovers, becoming the clubs new head coach.
Clarke, who is considered a legendary figure by Gasheads having previously managed the club from 2014 to 2018, signs a three-year deal at the Memorial Stadium.
In a statement released by the club once news of the appointment broke, he said: “It is difficult to put into words just how special it feels to come back to Bristol Rovers. I am beyond proud to return and once again be here at this exceptional Club. I am excited to get down to work during the off-season, prepare for the new campaign and step out at The Mem once again in front of the brilliant, passionate Gasheads. We will need each and every one of them with us in the season to come and I want to give them a team they can get behind and performances they can be proud of.”
The 47-year-old began his coaching career at Sailsbury City, where he was made player-manager in July 2010. He won promotion in his first season in charge, before impressive cup runs to the second round of both the FA Trophy and FA Cup the next season.
Clarke’s final season with Sailsbury saw another promotion, which meant that during his time at the club he had taken them from the Southern League all the way to the Conference.
His success at Sailsbury earned him the assistant manager role at Bristol Rovers in June 2013, and it wouldn’t be long before he stepped up to the hotseat, taking over in March 2014 with Rovers in danger of relegation out of the Football League. Clarke was unable to save them, and oversaw the clubs drop into non-league for the first time in 94 years.
He did well in the Conference, finishing 2nd in the regular season, and missing out on the title by only one point. In the play-offs, Rovers defeated Forest Green 3-0 on aggregate before beating Grimsby Town on penalties to return to the Football League at the first attempt.
It was to get even better for Clarke on his return to League Two, as an incredible campaign saw Rovers secure back-to-back promotions to League One with a last minute winner on the final day.
The next season would see Clarke’s highest ever league finish, 10th in League One, before a gradual decline began which ended with Clarke being sacked in December 2018 with Rovers in a relegation battle. He left having firmly cemented his place as a legend at the Memorial Stadium.
Clarke’s next job would be Walsall, who he joined in May 2019. A mid-table finish was all he could muster, and in February 2021, he left the Bescot Stadium to join Port Vale.
He steadied the ship at Vale Park, before turning the fortunes of the club around, achieving yet another promotion from League Two in the play-offs in 2022. Clarke would not last a full season in League One, being sacked in April 2023 with the club in danger of relegation.
Cheltenham was his next calling, joining in September 2023 when the club hadn’t scored a league goal. He oversaw an impressive upturn in form, but this wasn’t enough to save them from relegation.
Over the summer, Clarke departed for Barnsley. A decent start to the season fizzled into mid-table, and he was sacked in March due to the poor form.
That leads us back to now, where DC has returned to the club where he had the most success in Bristol Rovers. He joins the club on a deal running until 2028, which has been met by universal praise and excitement from Gasheads.
They know from personal experience that Clarke is a capable pair of hands, with many promotions on his CV, and an ability to unify both a fan base and a dressing room. The hope is that these qualities will make the difference in Rovers’ pursuit of promotion back to League One, following relegation in the season just gone. One thing for sure is that the appointment has brought a feel good factor back to the club which can only be a good in helping the club achieve its aims.