Darrell Clarke admits “there will be changes” during the summer transfer window at Bristol Rovers, but the new Gas boss is adamant the squad that were relegated from League One last season will be given his “full support” if they return for pre-season with the right attitude and mindset.
Under the management of Inigo Calderon, Rovers slipped into the fourth tier of English football last season, with their relegation to League Two set in stone before their final-day defeat away to Blackpool. Just a day later, Calderon’s exit was confirmed by the club, as were the departures of nine players, including Scott Sinclair, Grant Ward and Jack Hunt, with the publication of the Pirates’ retained list.
Less than three days after that defeat to the Seasiders, Rovers announced that Clarke would be the man to succeed the former Brighton youth coach in the Mem dugout, having previously taken charge of the Gas between 2014 and 2018.
Although the 47-year-old only officially started work on Monday, he has already met with the recruitment team ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer in North Bristol. Of course, changes will be made, but the Rovers head coach is ready and willing to give those already in post a chance to prove themselves.
“It’s been very busy so far, and it will get even busier,” Clarke replied when asked how busy a summer he was expecting in terms of player turnover. “Listen, it’s ongoing.
“What I will say is I’ve met the recruitment team and we’ve had lots of meetings already. There’s platforms and pieces being put into that jigsaw straight away. I know what I’ve inherited as well, and I know quite a few of those players have had quite a disappointing season, but what I will say is, they come with a fresh slate with me.
“Those boys, they’re my boys now, they’re my players and when they’re back in on June 23, we’ll be looking to make sure they take on board what I want to build here, what we’re trying to build, what me and Ricky are trying to build, the culture the environment around the place ultimately to win football matches.
“So there will be changes, lots of them,” Clarke continued. “There will be players that are given that fair crack of the whip, and no doubt there will be one or two that fall by the wayside. But, hopefully, they know they can come here with a clean slate and all to prove because some of the players from last season, they owe the fans.
“As long as they come back in with the right attitude, the right mindset, they’re going to get mine and my staff’s full support.”
In his first spell in charge in BS7, Clarke led Rovers to back-to-back promotions out of both the National League and League Two, having initially taken the Gas out of the Football League on the final day of the 2013/14 season with a 1-0 defeat to Mansfield Town.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
Since returning to The Mem, the 47-year-old has been open about his belief that Rovers should be challenging near the top half of League One, rather than eyeing another promotion out of the fourth tier. However, having found himself in similar situations earlier in his career, he knows what he needs from his playing squad to get the Pirates back to where he feels they belong.
“I’m a custodian of this football club,” Clarke said. “I was last time, Ricky is, the board are, but the fans are here to stay.
“So for me, it’s a task to make sure I get players performing out there how Bristol Rovers players should look like, full of guts, full of determination, living their lives as professionals every single minute of the day, wanting to achieve, wanting to do better, wanting to do all the things, the non-negotiables I call it.
“Players will have good days, players will have bad games, that’s footballers, that’s at the top level and through all the levels. But the non-negotiables for me are key and that’s not just on a matchday, that’s on a daily basis.”
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