Former Leeds United and Swansea City figure ‘in contention’ for Bristol Rovers job

A former Leeds United and Swansea City coach has emerged as a strong contender for the Bristol Rovers job after they sacked Joey Barton.

Barton was dismissed after nearly three-years at the Memorial Stadium as a result of the Gas’ poor start to the season. Rovers’ board invested into the playing squad this summer with a six-figure transfer fee spent on Connor Taylor whilst high-profile loanees such as Harvey Vale and Matt Cox were brought into the club.

In the immediate aftermath of Barton’s sacking, there is already talk as to who could replace him. Former MK Dons and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson is the favourite for the post but now a new name has emerged.

TEAmtalk reports that Cameron Toshack is under consideration for the job. In the report, Rovers are said to be 'considering a number of managerial options' and that Toshack is one of the names on their list. The 53-year-old is the son of the former Liverpool striker and Real Madrid manager John Toshack, but has so far managed just one senior club in his career.

His most recent role in football was working as assistant manager to Jesse Marsch at Leeds United before leave Elland Road alongside the American in February. He was manager of Cypriot club Pafos in 2019 and had a successful spell there leading them to a seventh-placed finish. He departed after 11-months but left having boasted the best win percentage for any manager in the clubs history.

His other previous roles in football include assisting his dad with the Macedonian national team, the manager of Swansea City's under-18, under-19's and under-23's sides. He managed the likes of former Bristol Rovers loanees Oli McBurnie and Connor Roberts, as well as Daniel James and Joe Rodon.

Toshack was a contender for the Cardiff City job in the summer and was on their four-man shortlist according to WalesOnline along with Nathan Jones and Oscar Garcia, but the Bluebirds opted for Turkish manager Erol Bulut. He has kept himself engaged in football however and has held a punditry role with BBC Radio Wales commenting on Welsh football affairs.