Bristol Rovers dealt blow as key member of Joey Barton’s staff joins Reading

As well as new signings, Joey Barton will now have to find a new goalkeeping coach for the 2022/23 season
Bristol Rovers will now seek a new goalkeeping coach after the departure of Tony Warner. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)Bristol Rovers will now seek a new goalkeeping coach after the departure of Tony Warner. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Bristol Rovers will now seek a new goalkeeping coach after the departure of Tony Warner. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Bristol Rovers have been dealt a blow after goalkeeping coach Tony Warner left to take up the same role in a higher division with Reading.

Warner joined the coaching staff last season having replaced David Coles, who worked under both Ben Garner and Joey Barton but has now moved on to pastures new, taking up a job in the Championship.

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He reunites with former Liverpool and Manchester United defender Paul Ince with the pair crossing their paths together at Merseyside. Ince and Warner are reunited once more after the former Trinidad & Tobago international worked with the Royals boss at Blackpool.

The former Reds goalkeeper is highly thought of amongst the coaching staff and the playing squad and his departure will leave a considerable gap amongst the first-team set up.

In a short statement posted by Rovers, they said: “The club would like to thank Tony for his efforts whilst at the club and we wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

He was influential in bringing in James Belshaw to the club, a goalkeeper who later went on to become the team’s Player of the Year in the clubs promotion winning season.

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Warner personally persuaded Barton to give Belshaw a chance, having been allowed to leave Harrogate Town on a free transfer as the club sought a different direction.

Rovers had only been on the search for a number two as back up to Anssi Jaakkola but Belshaw ended up displacing the Finland international and became the first choice goalkeeper for the 2021/23 season.

Belshaw ended up keeping 17 clean sheets for the Gas, which was a huge part as to how they won promotion from League Two, becoming a key dressing room figure.

Warner is the second member of staff to leave after player development coach Rhys Carr left his post to take up a role with Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers.

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Carr will take up the role as Individual Development Coach, working one-to-one with the younger players at Wolves. Carr had only been in his post a short time after coaching spells at inter-city rivals Bristol City and Sheffield United.

Rovers are due to return to first-team training next week ahead of their first pre-season match with Melksham Town on July 1 with Barton now tasked with finding a replacement.

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