Bristol Rovers hero Lee Mansell to remain in charge of Gloucester City until end of the season

Bristol Rovers legend Lee Mansell will remain in charge of Gloucester City for the remainder of the season.

Pressure had mounted on Mansell after he had failed to win since taking over from Paul Groves in September.

That pressure was relieved though as he had a player from his former club to thank as loanee Ollie Hulbert scored twice to earn Mansell his first victory with a 2-0 win over Farsley Celtic.

A few hours after the full-time whistle the club announced on social media: “We are delighted to announce that Lee will be continuing as manager until the end of the season, with contract talks for next season to begin in the New Year.”

The win on Saturday lifted them off the foot of the table but they still remain in the relegation zone, tied on nine points with Telford and also Guiseley.

It’s a far cry from how the Tigers were performing last season, given they were first after 18 games, but the season was abandoned due to the pandemic.

This isn’t Mansell’s first steps into management as he was given the role as development squad manager in 2019, having previously cut his cloth as part of Darrell Clarke’s coaching staff.

The 39-year-old made less than 100 appearances for Rovers between 2014 and 2017, but played a part in promotion back to the Football League, as well as a successive promotion to League One.

Gasheads will want to continue to follow Mansell’s progress at Gloucester because as well as Hulbert being a loan ranger for Gloucester and Mansell, Lucas Tomlinson is also plying his trade at the New Meadow Park and will remain there until January after his loan was extended.

Other links to Bristol Rovers include former defender Daniel Leadbitter, who played over 100 times for the club, more than Mansell, as well as former striker Bernard Mensah who made nine appearances for Rovers when joining from Aldershot in January 2018.

As well as Hulbert and Tomlinson succeeding at Gloucester, there are other players out on loan right now. Cameron Hargreaves and Zain Walker, who made their debut for Chippenham Town in their 3-0 win over Billericay Town on Sunday.