Exclusive: David Prutton reacts to big Bristol Rovers news | OneFootball

The 47-year-old returned to the Memorial Stadium last week

David Prutton has praised Bristol Rovers for the re-appointment of Darrell Clarke as they prepare for life back in League Two.

The Gas' three-year spell back in League One after the most dramatic of final-day promotions at the expense of Northampton Town back in May 2022 came to an end with one game of the season remaining, as Burton Albion's resurgence condemned the Gas to relegation.

It was a disastrous end to the season for Rovers under the management of former Brighton and Hove Albion right-back Inigo Calderon, as his side picked up just one point from the 27 on offer during the final nine games of the season, and he was dismissed following the 4-1 defeat at Blackpool on May 3rd.

However, owner, Hussain AlSaeed and the hierarchy at the Memorial Stadium were also swift to move for the Spaniard's successor, as Clarke was reinstalled in the hotseat, six-and-a-half years after his previously successful association with the club came to an end in December 2018.

After sleepwalking into the fourth-tier, attention now turns to a critical summer in this part of Bristol as Clarke looks to mount an immediate return to the third and prove his own point, having being dismissed by Barnsley on March 12th despite being handed a two-year contract with the option of a further year at Oakwell just 12 months ago.

Many Gasheads have welcomed the re-appointment of Clarke, who previously dragged the club from the depths of National League football and into League One with back-to-back-promotions between 2015 and 2016 before finishing 10th and 13th in his final two full seasons in charge.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, EFL pundit and former Leeds United midfielder, Prutton, believes the club have nailed the re-appointment of the 47-year-old who will have the immediate backing of supporters.

"Darrell Clarke back in the Bristol Rovers job. Yes, I do think it's a good appointment, I've got a lot of time for Darrell," he began.

"Again, experienced CV in the EFL with regards to moving into management," he added.

"Obviously, there's work to be done at Bristol Rovers. I think, perhaps, the good will and PR side of it almost helps you build a platform. After that, it's whether you can get out on the grass and do the job, which I absolutely, thoroughly believe he can do.

"A lot of time for Darrell, one of the good guys, and I wish him all the best," Prutton concluded.

Darrell Clarke's first words after re-appointment will excite Bristol Rovers supporters

After a dismal second half of the season, many supporters could be forgiven for dreading the uncertainty which often follows a relegation. However, in this case, the Mansfield-born man's first words after he was reinstated will excite those at the Mem and those under contract heading into next season.

When asked by club media what the main attraction behind his return was, Clarke stated: "The rapport with the fans was a massive pull for me, but also, it’s still a Club with massive potential.

"If you take away from my previous period here, you’d still look at the Club as a very big Club in a division that we shouldn’t be in, and where we should be competing is where we need to get back into. So, the pull of that was massive, but certainly, the connection with the supporters was key," he added.

Shortly after the final day, it was announced that 15 out-of-contract and loan players would depart the club heading into the off-season, so the task in hand is clear for all to see. However, given his previous achievements in the EFL's basement division, which most recently brought success in the play-off final with Port Vale, the Rovers hierarchy couldn't have appointed anyone better when taking an array of factors into account.