By Harry Mottram: Bristol Rovers Football Club confirmed today the club has relieved First Team Manager Joey Barton of his duties. In a statement the club said: “Everyone at the club would like to thank Joey for all his efforts and wish him well in the future. In the interim, Andy Mangan will lead the team supported by Glenn Whelan, Danny Ventre and Anssi Jaakkola who will remain in post.”
Rovers, known as The Gas or The Pirates, played in Bath’s Twerton Park Ground for 10 years from 1996 to 2006 when they hit financial skids. They now play at the former Bristol Rugby Memorial Ground off Muller Road in the city. For the majority of their history, Bristol Rovers have played their home games at the Eastville Stadium, sadly now an IKEA store.
Joey Barton has had a long career in professional football starting with Manchester City where he gained his one England cap – before spells at Newcastle, QPR, Marseille, Burley, Rangers and Burnley. He was appointed manager at Rovers in 2021. Off the pitch he has had some personal demons to contend with including an assault charge against a woman in 2022, an18 month ban for betting on matches while a player, sparking a mass brawl at a pre-season friendly in 2004, and various punch ups and assaults with players over the years.
Bristol Rovers currently lie in the bottom half of League One.