{"id":1419490,"date":"2025-12-17T08:33:58","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T08:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1419490"},"modified":"2025-12-17T11:47:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T11:47:48","slug":"can-steve-evans-save-bristol-rovers","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/can-steve-evans-save-bristol-rovers\/","title":{"rendered":"Bristol Rovers analysis: Can Steve Evans save the Gas?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bristol Rovers have hurtled into the League Two relegation zone after 10 consecutive league defeats, resulting in the sacking of club legend Darrell Clarke.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rovers have turned to former Rotherham manager Steve Evans in an attempt to change their fortunes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EFL expert Gab Sutton\u00a0looks at Rovers\u2019 appointment of the former Rotherham boss, as the club north of the Severn looks to move north of the dotted line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Darrell Clarke’s second spell failed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As well as being a cult hero among\u00a0Gasheads for his work in his first spell winning back-to-back promotions to League One, Clarke has also proven\u00a0a highly reliable\u00a0manager, at this level and above, having also delivered positive results with Port Vale and Cheltenham.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Clarke has been able to assemble a group of players he trusts, players who share a similar mentality to him, leaders and strong characters, he\u2019s been able to achieve success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, it suggests, firstly,\u00a0that\u00a0the group\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0worked with in his second stint\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have the right characteristics to play for him, and secondly, that there are deep-rooted issues at the club, in terms of recruitment and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short-term fix?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With question marks over Al-Saeed\u2019s ownership regime and their ability to give managers the support they need to build teams that reflect them, it was hardly surprising that Evans\u2019 deal to become the club\u2019s new head coach was only until the end of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clearly, Evans backs himself to make an instant impact with this group of players, which has the individual quality, at least, to be well above the bottom two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, with the correct additions in January, the Scot may regard\u00a0a\u00a0turnaround at the Mem as almost low-hanging fruit, with Rovers having a far stronger squad on paper than that of the likes of Newport and Harrogate.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea, from his point of view, could be to oversee an improvement in performance, and comfortable survival, strengthening his position going into summer conversations about a longer-term deal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By that point, he will have had more of an idea about what goes on behind closed doors, and how the club functions on an operational level, without relying on those processes being good like he would be if\u00a0he\u2019d\u00a0gone in during the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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"I was delighted to receive the call from Ricky Martin to come and meet him and the owners. During those chats, it became very clear and obvious that I wanted to take the job."

?\ufe0f Steve Evans speaks to BRTV for the first time since joining Bristol Rovers as Head Coach…<\/p>— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) December 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>