Darrell Clarke joins as John Ward's number two
Bristol Rovers are delighted to announce that Darrell Clarke will be joining the club as John Ward’s Assistant Manager.
Clarke, 35, will be leaving his role as manager of Salisbury City to link up with The Pirates for pre-season training.
He joined Salisbury as a player in 2007, becoming player-manager in 2010.
During his first season in charge, the club won promotion from the Southern League Premier Division, via the play offs.
His second season saw Salisbury progress through to the third round of the FA Cup, for the first time in the club’s history.
And this season, Clarke led the club to Conference football, after again gaining promotion through the play offs.
Although John Ward has never worked with him before, he is excited to link up with an ambitious, young assistant.
He said: “Darrell has achieved success on a relatively small budget over the last couple of years and has experience as a first team manager.
“I have never worked with him before, which is exciting for me, as he is going to push me as well as himself.
“He has had experience playing at this level with Mansfield and Hartlepool, so that will be beneficial.
“He is young, with lots of ambition, but he also brings with him plenty of experience. I look forward to working with him.”
Clarke began his career as a player at Mansfield Town progressing through the youth system and signing as a professional in 1995.
He moved to Hartlepool in 2001, where he stayed until the end of the 2006/07 season. During that time he enjoyed loan spells at Stockport County, Port Vale and Rochdale.
He then joined Salisbury in the summer of 2007.
Chairman Nick Higgs said: “I am delighted to welcome Darrell to the club.
“He is a young man with lots of ambition, and I believe he and John will form a really strong partnership.”