Bristol Rovers manager search: Ex-Bristol City and Burnley boss ‘keen’ as sacked Charlton manager ‘in the mix’

Former Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill is reportedly keen on replacing Joey Barton at Bristol Rovers.

That’s according to the Sunday Mirror’s Darren Witcoop, who also claims Dean Holden - another ex-Robins manager currently out of work - is in the mix and highly thought of at the Memorial Stadium.

The Gas are in the process of finding a replacement for Barton, following his sacking on Thursday.

Andy Mangan is currently in caretaker charge and will prepare the 16th-placed side for Saturday’s home game against Northampton.

A host of names have already been linked with the vacant role, with ex-Leeds assistant manager Cameron Toshack mentioned, while former Cardiff and Gillingham boss Neil Harris is among the early favourites, according to the bookies.

Cotterill and Holden’s names also appear high on the betting odds. And according to Whitcoop, there’s good reasons for that.

He claims Cotterill, who turned down an approach from Cheltenham last month, is interested. The 59-year-old is currently out of a job following his Shrewsbury exit at the end of last season.

It’s safe to assume his pedigree is something that could appeal to the Rovers ownership, with the former Portsmouth, Nottingham Forest and Burnley manager possessing four promotions on his CV - including the League One title with the Robins from the 2014-15 season.

Holden’s name, meanwhile, does apparently hold a lot of weight within the corridors of power at the Memorial Stadium.

According to Whitcoop, he has his admirers within the club, despite a career that has produced just one promotion campaign - with Chesterfield during his then side’s 2010-11 League Two season.

Holden, who has also managed Oldham, is currently unemployed following his recent sacking at Charlton.

He was in charge at Ashton Gate for less than a season, after he got axed in February 2021 following five consecutive Championship defeats.