Calderon wants Rovers stay despite relegation

Inigo Calderon was appointed manager by Bristol Rovers at the end of 2024 but could not stop relegation

Bristol Rovers manager Inigo Calderon said he would like to stay at the club next season despite their relegation to League Two being confirmed on Tuesday night.

Rovers were relegated despite not kicking a ball as Burton's 1-1 draw with Wigan left them four points adrift of safety with only one game left to play.

Former Brighton defender Calderon was appointed on Boxing Day on a two-and-a-half year contract and oversaw six wins, three draws and 15 losses in his 24 league games.

"I would like to stay here especially because I think the business hasn't been done for me, obviously," he told BBC Radio Bristol.

"I feel a big part of the relegation, big time, but it's true that it's not up to me.

"I have to have a conversation with the board, it's not an easy one for them either. They have to make a great decision because next year is going to be massive."

As recently as 15 March, the Gas were nine points clear of the relegation zone, following back-to-back wins against Huddersfield and Bolton, but a run of six straight defeats plunged them into danger.

Defeat to Reading last weekend all-but confirmed a return to the fourth tier following three campaigns in League One, and means they go into their final game against Blackpool without a win in their past nine matches.

Calderon - who went over to the fans at the Memorial Ground following the full-time whistle against Reading - said this week had been "tough".

"It's something that we created, we deserve because after that many games you are down there it is not unlucky. It is difficult to take but at the same time we have to take it," he added.

"Now we have time to reflect and to see things we should do better for the future, for the club, for everyone."

Even when Bristol Rovers were clear of the bottom four Calderon was saying that he did not think the club were "safe", but thought their downward spiral had at least halted.

"Maybe everyone was thinking it was already done, I was thinking that it was not done but it's true that I thought OK, we had stopped the falling," he said.

"Then you start in a bad run and you have to be really strong to go out from that bad run, and we were not a strong team because of everything before makes you go back to that bad mental status."

Defeat to Reading last weekend all-but confirmed Rovers' relegation before Burton sealed it on Tuesday

Calderon said he did not want to make "excuses" but pointed to injuries in the side and the lack of goals scored as being contributing factors for their relegation, as well constantly having to adapt the team.

Only Stevenage, bottom club Shrewsbury and Wigan Athletic scored fewer than Rovers' 43 goals in League One with Ruel Sotiriou their top scorer on just six.

"A lot" of changes were likely this summer, he added, although stressed it was too soon for that with Rovers travelling to Blackpool on Saturday for their final match.

"I see a lot of good things in this football club even after such a bad run I still feel a lot of support from the supporters, I have to give you something back," Calderon said.