Bristol Rovers lauded for Steve Evans appointment – It’s 'just what we needed' | OneFootball

FLW’s Bristol Rovers fan pundit has commented on the appointment of Steve Evans.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Bristol Rovers have moved quickly to source Darrell Clarke’s replacement in the form of Steve Evans.

The Gas parted ways with Clarke after a 3-0 home defeat to Swindon Town, which saw the club drop into the bottom two on goal difference.

Rovers’ latest defeat meant it was a 10th straight loss in the fourth-tier too, making Clarke’s position untenable. Still a popular figure among supporters for his previous stint at the Memorial Stadium, Clarke simply couldn't make it happen after returning for a second spell and left the Pirates staring at the prospective of successive relegations from League One to the National League.

And now Bristol Rovers have opted for experience to try and haul themselves out of the mess they find themselves in, with the 63-year-old Evans stepping into the dugout nearly nine months on after departing Rotherham United.

There is sure to be optimism brewing around the appointment of Evans, given the success he has tasted in his extensive managerial career in the EFL.

The Scotsman recovered Stevenage from a similar position to help them gain promotion to League One, while he also propelled the Millers to back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship between 2012 and 2014.

Evans will be looking to rediscover that magic and transform the fortunes of the Gas in time, with the new boss needing to show that the team is on the right path under his guidance quickly, given he has signed a deal until the end of the season.

It will be intriguing to see how Evans’ latest stint will go, and with this in mind, FLW’s Bristol Rovers fan pundit has commented on whether this is the right appointment and if he can get the club on an upwards direction.

Speaking to Football League World, Bristol Rovers fan pundit Ziggy Carter believes Steve Evans is exactly the kind of manager the club needs right now, insisting the Scotsman can replicate what he achieved with Stevenage given he is inheriting Bristol Rovers in a very similar position.

Ziggy said: “I’m very happy with the appointment of Steve Evans. I think he is just what we needed, someone who will give the players a kick up the backside a little bit, and more importantly, I think it’s a new beginning for the players by having someone of that much experience at the club.

“We are in a very similar situation to his Stevenage side who he took over, and if you look at where Stevenage are right now, at the top of League One in that position, to the greatest respect to Stevenage, they are probably overachieving by knocking on the door to the Championship, and I think that came from Steve Evans taking them over when they were right at the bottom of League Two, struggling with their team, but he took them to promotion to League One and then just missed out on the play-offs next season.

“I think it’s a great appointment, and it is definitely what we needed. On a deal until the end of the season, it gives him and the owners the time to reflect on what happens at the end of the season. If we go down, depending on the performance of the team, how he’s got them playing, then I think it’s a good contract to have, as most recently we’ve had managers on long contracts, and we’ve had to pay them off.

“Inigo Calderon, Darrell Clarke, Matt Taylor. They’ve never reached the end of their contracts, and having Evans just until the end of the season will really help the team. However, it could also make them think that they could just play it out until the end of the season, but I think he’s a good manager, he will fit our team and will fit the fanbase as well.

“It was a lot of what the fanbase wanted with Evans to come in, and I think it’s a really good choice from the ownership group and Ricky Martin.”

Bristol Rovers can prosper with Steve Evans at the helm

Steve Evans’ record in the EFL as a manager speaks for itself, with the 63-year-old having a habit of delivering success with the majority of clubs he has been at.

Rovers’ supporters will take comfort in the role he played in transforming Stevenage, hoping Bristol Rovers can be the next club to benefit.

The last time Evans managed in League Two, he helped Stevenage gain promotion back to League One after nine seasons in the fourth-tier, originally arriving in March with Boro just three points above the relegation zone.

There is some doubt over whether Evans would see out the course of a rebuild given he has only been appointed on a deal to the end of the campaign, but the club has every opportunity of getting drastically better during the second half of this term under his guidance.

The Scotsman has also gone down well with supporters for some of his positive past comments about the club, so it’s a relationship that is starting off on the right foot, and he will be adored if he can get the club rising up the table in the coming weeks and months.

The club have certainly made the correct choice to appoint Evans, who possesses the experience and winning mentality to get the club looking up the table rather than over their shoulders.