Fresh twist as Bristol Rovers' League One rivals consider move for ex-Norwich City and Huddersfield manager

There have been new developments as Bristol Rovers’ League One rivals Bolton Wanderers search for a new manager, with the anticipated announcement of Steven Schumacher seemingly delayed amid suggestions that former Norwich City and Huddersfield Town head coach David Wagner could now be in the frame.

The Trotters, who next play Bristol Rovers on 11 March, had been expected to announce their new manager this week but may now head into the weekend with youth team coach Julian Darby as their caretaker manager for the third consecutive game following the departure of former boss Ian Evatt.

Schumacher, who has previously coached Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City and has been promoted three occasions as both a coach and a player, had been the clear favourite for the job, but there appear to have been setbacks in discussions between club and coach and Wagner briefly became the betting favourite with some bookmakers on Wednesday.

Bolton are currently 7th in the League One table, 12 places and 16 points ahead of the Gas, having won both of their games with Darby in temporary charge of the side.

Wagner odds rise after Schumacher delay

The Bolton News reports that club have said the search for a new manager is “ongoing” but they had originally hoped to name their next head coach by midweek – and the club are “tight-lipped on the reasons behind the delay” amid speculation that Bolton could have switched focus to Wagner.

The 53-year-old German coach, who took Huddersfield into the Premier League in 2017 before spells with Schalke, Young Boys and Norwich, was named as odds-on favourite in some betting markets yesterday before Schumacher overtook him once again.

Schumacher, who was named the League One manager of the year for taking Plymouth up to the second tier in 2023, has been out of work since he was sacked by Stoke in September, and had been the clear frontrunner to take over at Bolton prior to the current delay. It is not known what has caused talks to stall, but he remains in the running.

Darby could take charge again this weekend

It remains unclear whether caretaker manager Darby will still be in charge by the time Bolton face Reading this weekend, and he acknowledged in comments to the media that Saturday’s fixture against the Royals “looks a long way away at this minute” but added that he “will wait to see if I get a shout for that.”

Darby has previously suggested that he is not in the running to take the job on full-time despite positive results in his two games in charge, against Huddersfield and Northampton Town. Bolton have been without a manager since parting ways with Evatt on 22 January following a poor run of form. Evatt had been in charge for four years prior to the decision to relieve him of his duties.

In other news, Bristol Rovers have suffered a double transfer blow after missing out on two loan targets, and could part ways with experienced forward Jevani Brown.