Bristol Rovers are set to sack manager Matt Taylor, Bristol Live understands, after the Gas fell to 20th place and within two points of the League One relegation zone after their 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Rovers manager has been under increasing pressure for the majority of this season, having been on the brink following a run of four consecutive defeats in September. However, three wins in the following four league games over Charlton Athletic, Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town eased concerns.
Since that 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury, Rovers have taken just five points from a possible 21 in the league, winning over the course of 90 minutes just once. The Gas overcame both Weston-super-Mare and Barnsley in the FA Cup but relied on extra-time and penalties respectively to reach the third round.
Taylor made it to a year in the job earlier this month but was away from the dugout when he reached that milestone, having had to take a leave of absence to deal with a family emergency. First-team coach Dave Horseman and assistant manager Wayne Carlisle subsequently looked after footballing duties for two matches.
The Rovers manager missed the penalty success at Barnsley before being in the stands to watch the Gas’ 3-0 defeat at Leyton Orient three days later in which they produced their worst league display of the campaign so far.
The 42-year-old manager was set to make his return to the dugout for the home game against Bolton Wanderers on December 7 but a postponement due to safety concerns amid Storm Darragh meant that the loss at Birmingham ended up being his first game back in charge of the team while also proving to be his final in charge of the Gas.
Taylor was the Kuwaiti hierarchy’s first managerial appointment since their takeover of the club in August 2023 after they had sacked Joey Barton that October. A five-week recruitment process ended with Rovers hiring a manager who wasn’t available until three weeks into the search process after the former Exeter City boss lost his job at then-Championship side Rotherham United.
The 42-year-old ended his first month in charge as a nominee for League One Manager of the Month after the Gas recorded impressive victories over Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic but they then went on to win just seven of their remaining 23 league games while setting a new club record for the longest period without scoring as Rovers finished 15th in their second season back in the third tier.
Bristol Rovers Live on Whatsapp
Join Bristol Rovers Live’s Whatsapp community for all the biggest Bristol Rovers stories sent straight to your phone
Bristol Rovers Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community.
Through the app, we’ll send the Bristol Rovers news, live match coverage, team news, transfers, fixtures, analysis and more straight to your phone.
To join our community you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select ‘Join Community’.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Bristol Live team.
We also treat community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out at any time you like.
To leave our community, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘Exit group’.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Taylor frequently made it clear that change was needed and subsequently made 16 new signings over the summer transfer window, director of football George Friend’s first window in his role after retiring from playing in February.
However, despite glimpses of strong performances and quality, inconsistency has remained the Gas’ biggest issue with Rovers winning just six of their 19 League One matches so far this term, scoring only 17 goals.
A streak of just two goals in their last seven games alongside major struggles of late to register shots on target has seen pressure intensify to a point where supporters could be heard, not for the first time this season, chant for Taylor’s time in charge to come to an end at St Andrew’s.
Following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Birmingham, Taylor was asked if he is concerned about his future, admitting: “Yes, but I can’t control that. Whoever’s in charge of this football team, I think the same patterns will occur.”
Rovers are still yet to officially confirm their manager’s departure at the time of writing but are expected to have already begun the search for a replacement with no clarity on an expected timescale ahead of the festive period, starting with Wrexham at the Mem on Saturday.