Familiar faces and Premier League experience – Bristol Rovers confirm new-look coaching staff

Bristol Rovers have confirmed their new coaching staff ahead of the 2024/25 season as pre-season kicked off at The Quarters on Monday.

Wayne Carlisle has remained at the club, joining on a part-time basis in February as a freelance player development coach, becoming Rovers’ new assistant coach following the departure of Jamie McAllister, which has now been officially announced by the Gas. A former Rovers player, Carlisle worked alongside Matt Taylor at both Rotherham United and Exeter City.

In terms of new faces, former Forest Green Rovers and Southampton B manager David Horseman has joined the club as first-team coach, with the Bristolian also previously spending a total of 10 years at Bristol City in the academy set up by throughout the year. two spells.

A highly respected coach in the English game, Horseman’s roles at City during his first eight-year spell included assistant academy manager, under-18 manager, head youth development coach. He then returned in 2017 to become head coach before joining Southampton in 2019.

Towards the end of his four-year spell on the south coast, Horseman was integrated into the first-team coaching staff as Saints were relegated from the Premier League, before getting his first chance as first-team manager with Forest Green this season last.

New goalkeeper boss Scott Brown is another newcomer familiar with the South West, with the 39-year-old a legend at Cheltenham Town. The former goalkeeper, who also played for Port Vale, Wycombe Wanderers and Aberdeen during his playing career, worked alongside Taylor previously at both Rotherham and Exeter.

Elsewhere, Andrew Proctor has joined the Gas as head of medical, with the likes of Oxford United, Exeter and Bristol City on his CV. Proctor left the Robins last month after six years in his interim role. Meanwhile, Liam McCartan has become Rovers’ new chief analyst, joining from Swindon Town. He has previously worked for Stoke City and the Irish FA.

McCartan’s appointment follows the departure of former head of data and analytics Adam Mahoney to become Huddersfield Town’s assistant head of recruitment. Mahoney was promoted to the role as part of the club’s new recruitment team in February, having previously worked in the analytics department.

In addition to the appointments, the departures of Kevin Bond and Anssi Jaakkola from the club have now been officially confirmed, as has McAllister. Bond rejoined Rovers as first-team coach in November on a part-time basis, initially to assist then interim boss Andy Mangan after the former Tottenham, Newcastle and Southampton manager had been part of the staff coaches during Gas’ League Two. promotion season.

Additionally, Jaakkola became goalkeeping coach last summer after ending his playing career which ended with a four-year spell in BS7, and McAllister became Taylor’s assistant manager in December.