REVEALED: Bristol Rovers boss Inigo Calderon's recipe for success

Bristol Rovers boss Inigo Calderon has squeezed life into the club’s fight against relegation by banning tomato ketchup, Bristol World can reveal.

Lifting the lid on the new regime, Gas star Isaac Hutchinson told Bristol World that Calderon’s recipe for success means ketchup, mayonnaise, chips, pizza and garlic bread are all off the menu for the players and staff at Rovers.

Hutchinson made the shock revelation after he found himself on the scoresheet in an impressive 3-1 victory over ex-Gas manager Darrell Clarke’s high-flying Barnsley at the Memorial Ground.

The shock win suggested that Calderon’s methods are working as Gasheads’ relegation fears were eased Rovers opened up a seven-point gap on those sides in the League One drop zone.

And Hutchinson played a key role in the shock win picking up his second goal of the season and helping Calderon earn his first home victory since succeeding Matt Taylor in the manager’s office last month.

Hutchinson told Bristol World: “The gaffer has banned ketchup, mayonnaise and garlic bread since he arrived here on the Rovers scene.

“And now there’s no more helpings of chips and pizza for us after games anymore and there’s not a lot of cheese around, either.

“But we all get where he’s coming from because we’re good professionals so we look after ourselves and we know how important good diets are.

“And we know that it’s all probably for the best because it's the fine margins that matter in sport and as a group we’re all committed to doing anything we can off the field to make a positive difference on the field.”

Former Brighton Under-18 coach Calderon is following the example of Steven Gerrard, Antonio Conte, Fabio Capello and Paolo Di Canio who’ve all banished ketchup in the past.

“We’ve bought into what the gaffer said and no one’s been kicking up a fuss when they can't have ketchup with their omelettes,” Hutchinson added. “We’ve all been in the game to understand his thinking and there’s some other sauces still around but maybe they won't last, either.

“So ketchup probably won’t be the last thing he’ll be changing because he won’t have wanted to come in and alter everything straight away. The thought did cross my mind to bring some of my own ketchup in but I can live without it and it’s not the end of the world having to go without.”

On the field, the former Walsall star also told Bristol World that he is playing with renewed confidence under Calderon.

‘He accepts that mistakes will happen and you don’t feel like he’s holding it against you,” added the 24-year-old who began his career at Southend before moving to Derby and Walsall before joining Rovers last summer.

“He gives everyone confidence and I think the way he wants us to play, you have to understand that mistakes will happen and it can’t affect the player.”

Hutchinson, who had a spell on loan at flagship eco-friendly Forest Green Rovers which is famed for vegan-only menus under owner Dale Vince, also told reporters that there has been some noticeable differences since Inigo Calderon was appointed Gas manager.

“On the training pitch he’s been really hands-on with the sessions we do,” Hutchinson continued. “And you can see that the hard work on the practice ground is paying dividends.

“He’s really clear in how he wants us to play and he’s constantly driving it. We’re definitely growing in confidence and he’s allowed us to do that.”

After his impressive display against Barnsley, Hutchinson will hope to maintain his good form as Rovers target a third League One win on the trot when they head up the M6 to Lancashire to take on fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Shaun Maloney’s Latics, who will play host to bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion on Tuesday night, currently sit just two points ahead of the Gas in 17th place.