Former Bristol Rovers boss set for return to management - five months after League One sacking

Former Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke is set for a return to management with one of their League One rivals.

The 45-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Port Vale in mid-April, and has been biding his time ahead of a return to the dugout.

A report from Gloucestershire Live claims that Cheltenham Town are expected to name Clarke as their new manager. The news could come today with the appointment expected to be made public in the next 24 hours ahead of the Robins' League One clash with Lincoln City this weekend.

He was interviewed by the Cheltenham board earlier this week, and with his appointment imminent it is unsure whether he will take to the dugout immediately or watch from the stands at Sincil Bank.

Clarke's appointment comes after former Bristol City manager Steve Cotterill rejected the chance to return to Cheltenham after leaving Shrewsbury Town this summer.

Cotterill turned the job out of respect to his former player Wade Elliott, who he managed at both Bristol City and Birmingham City.

As for what Clarke is signing up to, Cheltenham are rock bottom with just one point in nine games and they have yet to score a league goal this term.

A goal did come against Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy but that was an own goal by James Gibbons, and so their players have yet to score a goal themselves.

Clarke's appointment will see him reunite with experienced midfielder Liam Sercombe after the pair worked together during their time at the Mem. Clarke brought him to Rovers in the summer of 2017, and then the 33-year-old went on to play under him, Graham Coughlan and Ben Garner.

Clarke's return to the Memorial Stadium will come on Saturday, December 9, befor the reverse fixture at Whaddon Road on Saturday, April 13, 2024.