Former Hartlepool United midfielder sacked by League Two strugglers
Former Hartlepool United midfielder Darrell Clarke has been sacked by League Two strugglers Bristol Rovers.
The 47-year-old, who made 136 appearances at Victoria Park as a player, enjoys legendary status at The Memorial Stadium thanks to a successful spell earlier in his managerial career but found things far more difficult this time around.
Clarke led the Gas to back-to-back promotions in 2015, when he oversaw the Gloucestershire side's return to the Football League after winning the Conference play-offs, and then again in 2016 when Rovers clinched promotion to League One.
Following subsequent spells in charge of Walsall, Port Vale, during which time his eldest daughter, Ellie, tragically died, Cheltenham and Barnsley, Clarke returned to Bristol Rovers this summer in the wake of their relegation to League Two.
Tasked with leading Rovers back to League One, Clarke's new side looked to have enjoyed a strong summer, welcoming a raft of new signings that included former Pools men Macauley Southam-Hales and Brad Young.
Despite initial optimism in the South West, the Gas endured a challenging start to the season, losing all of their first four games.
However, their fortunes looked to have turned a corner following their first win of the campaign, a 1-0 victory over Cambridge on August 23, as Rovers embarked on a run of eight matches unbeaten.
Following an up-and-down spell throughout October and the early weeks of November, however, Clarke was sacked after a run of 10 straight defeats in the league saw the Gas slide into the League Two relegation places.
Clarke and his assistant Jon Stead were dismissed on Saturday after a 3-0 defeat at home to rivals Swindon - the third game in a row which they had lost without scoring - saw them drop to 23rd in the table.
In a statement published on the official website, Bristol Rovers said that "the club would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Darrell and Jon for their hard work and efforts.
"Darrell's legacy at the club is assured and he will always be warmly welcomed at The Memorial Stadium.
"The process to recruit a successor is underway and the club will be making no further comment at this time."