Bristol Rovers: Ricky Martin, Darrell Clarke comments suggest bullish approach to playing squad | OneFootball

Darrell Clarke and Ricky Martin express bullish approach to the Bristol Rovers playing squad

Bristol Rovers players have been put on notice by the new football management team, consisting of Director of Football Ricky Martin – installed just prior to the end of the season – and head coach Darrell Clarke, who has just begun his second tenure at the Gas following the club's relegation to League Two.

There was persistent disquiet among supporters during the last campaign at the lack of endeavour from the playing squad. And so Gasheads were delighted with the appointment of legendary former manager Clarke returning to the club, with many believing DC won't stand for such a lack of commitment to the shirt. And that appears to be standing up already with the new regime making it clear that anyone who doesn’t meet the standards expected by the supporters will not be on the club’s books for long.

A deep and mutual Bristol Rovers connection gives Darrell Clarke an advantage

Clarke’s deep and mutual connection with the club puts him in an advantageous position, not least for his knowledge of what fans expect a Bristol Rovers player to be. In an interview with club media, during which Ricky Martin joined the Gas icon, Clarke made reference to his understanding of the attributes of a Bristol Rovers player.

Saying: “We’re both aligned to understand that I know exactly what a Bristol Rovers player should look like. I know exactly what the fans expect from a Bristol Rovers player, and that’s where we will be aligned to make sure that we get those right players in that perform and honour the Football Club how we want it to be done, and that’s key. So, decisions have probably been a bit easier when you’ve gone down because it needed a blowtorch. To use my language, it needed a bit of a blowtorch, and we need to freshen the place up to get a winning mentality into the Club.”

Director of Football Ricky Martin was then asked by the interviewer how much he would lean on that knowledge of DCs, replying: “It’s about working with people and that collaborative approach. The recruitment team do a lot of great work behind the scenes, watching games and putting data and reports together and, collectively, we’ll discuss that. We’ve all got different skill sets. Darrell’s experience to know what it takes and what it looks like to be a Bristol Rovers player is going to play a big part in that.”

Clarke continued with a promise that he would ensure all at the club give everything to bring success back to the Pirates. Telling club media: “It’s easy to say we want promotion, and we want to compete in the Championship. It’s all easy to say, but the proof is always in the pudding, and what we will be doing and what I can promise our supporters is that we’ll be giving absolutely everything to bring success back to this football club. They deserve that, and you do that by getting everyone to buy into that, which we will be doing with our staff, with our players, and hopefully, everybody follows because if you’re not, they won’t be staying on the journey for too long.”

A “clean slate” for the Bristol Rovers players under Darrell Clarke

Later, Clarke gave his first formal press conference back at the club he enjoyed so much success at and struck a more conciliatory tone. He spoke of his meetings with the recruitment team and the support he and his staff will offer the players, also adding that they start under him with a “clean slate”.

Clarke told local media: “What I will say is that I’ve met the recruitment team, and we’ve had lots of meetings already. There are platforms and pieces being put into that jigsaw straight away. I know what I’ve inherited as well, and I know quite a few of those players have had a disappointing season. But what I will say is that they come with a fresh slate with me. Those boys are my boys now. They are my players, and when they’re back in on the 23rd of June, we’ll be looking to make sure that they take on board what I want to build here and what we’re trying to build, me and Ricky. The culture and the environment around the place, but ultimately, to win football matches.”

Referring to his expectations of changes at the club, he said: “There will be changes. Lots of them. There will be players that will be given that fair crack of the whip, and no doubt, there will be one or two that will fall by the wayside. But hopefully, they know that they can come here with a clean slate and it all to prove because some of the players from last season owe the fans, and as long as they come back in with the right attitude, they will get me and my staff’s full support. I have managed successful players in the past, so I can give them a helping hand on that or a kick up the backside. However, you want to call it, to get them to understand what this Club means to its supporters. So, for me, it’s a task to make sure that I get players performing out there to what Bristol Rovers players should look like. Full of guts. Full of determination. Living their lives as professionals every single minute of the day, wanting to achieve, wanting to do better and wanting to do all the non-negotiables, as I call it. Players will have good games. Players will have bad games. That’s footballers at the top level and through all levels, but the non-negotiables are key. That’s not just on a matchday. That’s on a daily basis.”

Clarke appears to be able to strike the fine balance between constructive criticism and giving the “kick up the backside” that sometimes we all need. And he continues to make all the right noises that will help to build a strong connection between the players, the staff, and the fans – something that was so lacking from the campaign just concluded. So a bullish approach from the new leadership has put the Bristol Rovers players on notice that last season’s escapades will not be tolerated.