Bristol Rovers’ six worst managers, ranked by victory %
Who have been the Gas’s least successful managers throughout its history?
Joey Barton, who was appointed by Bristol Rovers in February 2021, is one of the EFL’s longest serving managers, while others don’t given as much time to attempt and succeed.
Paul Tisdale – 26.3%
Barton guided the Gas out of League Two in the 2021-22 season and then comfortably kept them in England’s third tier the following year, indicating that he may have something going for him at the Memorial Stadium.
While Barton has been a success at the club thus far, what about the club’s least successful managers in terms of victory percentage?
Terry Cooper – 19.1%
Let’s take a look at the SIX worst managers in the Gas’ history, based on head coaches who have been in charge for at least 10 games.
Following the dismal tenure of Ben Garner, who may appear on this list later, Bristol Rovers went to Tisdale in November 2020, whose best work came during a long stint as Exeter City manager.
Tisdale, on the other hand, was unable to reproduce such results, and he only lasted three months with the club before being fired himself in February 2021.
Ben Garner – 18.2%
Tisdale won just five games in 19 as manager, with three of those coming in the league, with a 2-0 home defeat to Oxford United being as the final straw for the leadership.
The Gas were relegated later that season, with Tisdale’s tenure as manager doing nothing to aid their cause.
In April 1980, with Rovers in the English second division, club veteran Harold Jarman was fired as manager, and his replacement was his own first-team coach, Cooper, who chose to keep Jarman on his staff.
Cooper’s first management position, however, did not go as planned, and Rovers were demoted to the third division of English football in his first season in command.
Dave Penney – 15.4%
He was fired after only a few months into the 1981-82 season, having won only 13 of his 68 matches in command across all competitions.
As previously stated, Garner’s appointment as head coach in December 2019 did not go well, and he did not even complete a full year in command.
Rovers finished 14th in League One in Garner’s debut season in command, but he was fired a few months into the 2020-21 season after losing five of their first 11 third-tier games.
Garner’s stint ended with him having only won six of his 33 games in charge, and he is now the manager of Colchester United in League Two.
Martin Dobson – 8.3%
Penney had to hit the ground running after replacing a long-serving, popular manager in Paul Trollope, but he didn’t.
Penney’s arrival in January 2011 did nothing to stop the club’s fall, and after only 13 games in charge and winning twice, he was removed in favor of installing Stuart Campbell as caretaker manager.
That was Penney’s final managerial position, and at the age of 59, there are no signs of his returning to the top spot anytime soon.
After Gerry Francis left to become manager of Queens Park Rangers, Rovers had to find a replacement and settled on Dobson, who had previously managed Bury for three years.
Dobson had a poor start as manager of the Gas, winning only one of his first 12 games, and he was fired in October 1991.
Phil Bater – 7.1%
Rovers stayed in the second division after Dennis Rofe became charge, although Dobson did nothing to help at the start of the season.
While Bater, who played over 300 times for Rovers, was never a permanent manager, he controlled enough matches as a caretaker to unfortunately appear on this list.
Bater took over as caretaker manager when Garry Thompson was fired in 2002, and he was given more time in charge two years later when Ray Graydon quit.
Bater, on the other hand, only won one of his 14 matches in charge, which may explain why he ended up managing in non-league.
