Steve Evans Takes Charge at Bristol Rovers with Immediate Goals to Revive the Club
Steve Evans has been appointed manager of Bristol Rovers on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with financial backing promised in January.
Evans aims to match the level of their regional rivals Bristol City and to break the team's negative spiral.
He inherits a team languishing in the relegation zone of League Two and eager to recover after a 10-game losing streak, which led to the dismissal of former manager Darrell Clarke.
Evans, a veteran with over 700 EFL games, previously helped Stevenage and Mansfield escape difficult spells in 2022 and 2016 respectively, and has been seen as capable of lifting struggling teams.
In his first game in charge, Bristol Rovers drew 1-1 with Crewe Alexandra at Gresty Road despite Crewe playing with ten men for a large portion of the match.
Callum Morton scored the equaliser for Rovers while Crewe’s Adrien Thibaut was sent off.
This result ended Rovers’ losing streak and lifted them from 91st to 90th in League Two, though they remain in the relegation zone.
Evans emphasised that winning games is the first step to reversing the club’s fortunes, describing this as laying the groundwork for what he called "Pavlov-style stability."
He has relocated to Bristol and maintains a disciplined personal routine, including a daily 6am swim of 70–80 lengths, made easier by living in a Bristol hotel with a swimming pool.
Evans has also lost eight stone since his previous managerial spell and says he feels reinvigorated to revive Bristol Rovers, often known as the Gas.
