Matt Taylor: Bristol Rovers appoint former Rotherham boss as new manager

Matt Taylor guided Exeter to promotion before moving to Championship side Rotherham where he spent 13 months in charge

Bristol Rovers have appointed former Rotherham and Exeter boss Matt Taylor as their new manager on a three-and-half year deal.

Taylor spent 13 months with the Millers before being sacked on 13 November with the club 22nd in the Championship.

The 41-year-old previously led Exeter to promotion to League One in 2021-22.

Taylor replaces Joey Barton who was sacked by Rovers on 26 October after almost three years in charge and with the team 16th in League One.

"We would like to thank our fans for being patient with us throughout this thorough process whilst we identified the correct person to lead us in this new era for Bristol Rovers," chairman Hussain Al-Saeed said.

"Matt shared our visions of growing the club and has bought into our project. I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Matt to the club and wishing him every success."

Interim boss Andy Mangan, who only lost one of his seven league matches in charge to take Rovers up to 11th, will be leaving the club.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andy Mangan for all of his efforts during his time as interim manager," Al-Saeed added.

"We are confident that he will go on to have a successful career as a football manager and he will always be welcome here."

As a player Taylor spent the majority of his career at St James Park, captaining Exeter to promotion from non-league to League One. He also played for Charlton Athletic and Cheltenham before retiring in 2016 while playing for Bath City.

He returned to Devon to begin his coaching career and took over at the Grecians in 2018.

Taylor left in October 2022 to become Millers boss before departing last month.

'An appointment that makes sense'

Analysis - Richard Hoskin, BBC Radio Bristol sport editor

The time had definitely come for Rovers to name Joey Barton's replacement, 36 days since his departure.

Matt Taylor was still at Rotherham when Barton left the club - but amongst the many, many names linked with the job - this makes sense - and was the probably most realistic appointment.

He did well at Exeter, developing players like Sam Nombe and Jevani Brown - the latter he'll now be reunited with.

Granted Rotherham parted company with him recently, but that was always going to be a challenge with a limited budget.

His immediate mission is to kickstart Rovers season - and justify the faith and patience shown by new co-owner Hussain Al-Saeed.