Daniel Wales and Charles Hague-Jones discuss Bristol Rovers rebuilding after relegation.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Now, Bristol Rovers' season has ended in deep disappointment with relegation to League Two and the resignation of head coach Inigo Calderon just 24 hours after the final whistle.
00:12Appointed on Boxing Day, Calderon arrived with a clear vision, proactive, passionate football and a connection with fans.
00:19Early signs were positive, with back-to-back wins in January lifting spirits and raising hopes of survival.
00:26But the optimism quickly faded. Rovers' collapse in the run-in, taking just one point from their final ten matches, a disastrous spell that sealed their fate.
00:36Defensive frailties, particularly from set-pieces, played the side all season. They conceded more goals from dead-ball situations than any other team in League One.
00:46Injuries to key attacking players compounded their problems, limiting Calderon's tactical options and forcing regular changes to the starting XI.
00:54Despite the struggles, the Spaniard remained committed to his philosophy and praised the unity of the squad, but results never turned around.
01:04Calderon's resignation marks the end of a short, difficult tenure.
01:08While many appreciated his passion and openness, the club is now in urgent need of a reset.
01:14With League Two football ahead, Rovers must regroup quickly, rebuild a squad capable of challenging at the top and perhaps, most importantly, get their managerial appointment right.
01:25So Dan, how important are the next few weeks in terms of the club's future?
01:30Well, Charles, they are hugely important, but crucially, they've already got themselves off to a good start by reappointing former manager Daryl Clark,
01:43a man who is revered at the Memorial Stadium due to previous promotions overseen by him.
01:48So, that's the best possible start they could have had in terms of replacing Inigo Calderon.
01:54Obviously, not to be for Calderon, despite what was a promising start for him in terms of his time in charge of the gas,
02:02but ultimately just didn't quite work out.
02:04Those defeats towards the end of the season, just too much to come back from,
02:08and he decided to call it quits on his time in charge of the gas.
02:11But they've brought someone in who knows the club.
02:13That's really important as well.
02:15Someone who understands what it means to be in charge at the Memorial Stadium and understands the support, as crucially,
02:21and the workings that go on behind the scenes, because that's really important.
02:26When a club's starting to rebuild, sometimes it's good to get a familiar face in,
02:30and that's what they've done straight away.
02:31So, that's one thing that they can say they've checked off.
02:34But that's just one thing.
02:35They then still have to continue to get things right off the field as well,
02:39because, of course, it's not just down to the manager.
02:41It's also down to the players to see within themselves to show that they are still capable,
02:46or whether they should be moved on, or whether they are wanting to stay and fight
02:50and get this club back up to the third tier of English football.
02:54So, that's a lot of big decisions in waiting there in terms of who will stay, who will go,
03:01and how will the dynamic be in terms of the club, in terms of who will be part of it going forward.
03:07So, one thing that is certain is that Daryl Clark will be in charge next season.
03:13That's set in stone. That's good.
03:16Supporters, of course, will see that as a huge positive,
03:19because they'll just think of the memories.
03:21They'll think of what he did for the club previously,
03:23and that will spur them on massively.
03:27It'll give them a bit of a spring in their step, despite the relegation.
03:30And that's what you want, isn't it?
03:31Because, of course, relegation, everyone's dejected, everyone's sad and gloomy
03:35following what has been a really poor end to the season,
03:38cumulating with them dropping out of League One.
03:41But they need something to cling on to really fast,
03:43and it was an easy PR win, if anything.
03:46But, of course, they'll also hope that Clark himself can inspire some of the magic
03:50he brought to the club in his previous time in charge.
03:54So, it's a good PR win, but also, I think, tactically,
03:57and in terms of the direction of the club also,
04:00it's something that they think will help them going forward.
04:04Whether he's the long-term person, perhaps not,
04:07because, of course, he didn't stay at the club forever,
04:10and I'm sure he won't do this time either.
04:12But, just for now, it is just so, so good to have someone like him
04:15back at the club and steadying the ship a little bit as well,
04:19because it has been a rocky period for Bristol Rovers.
04:22And, of course, with the change in ownership as well,
04:25they've got to set their ambitions and their sights clear
04:28in terms of what they want to do going forward.
04:31And it's a win for them by appointing Daryl Clark once again.
04:35So, they clearly understand what the club wants to be
04:38and what it wants to do.
04:39It's just now whether they can fulfil their ambitions as well.