Tony Pulis in running for managerial return as EFL club makes announcement
Tony Pulis could soon return to management after nearly five years away following Bristol Rovers’ sacking of Darrell Clarke.
Pulis has been out of management since being dismissed as Sheffield Wednesday boss in December 2020 following a run of one win in 10 Championship games.
He had previously spent over a year out of management after leaving Middlesbrough at the end of his contract in the summer of 2019 following a seventh-placed second-tier finish.
The Newport-born boss is best known for his stellar second spell in charge of Stoke City between 2006 and 2013, during which he led them to promotion to the Premier League and an FA Cup final.
He also won Premier League Manager of the Season in 2013-14 while in charge of Crystal Palace as he led them to top-flight safety, and could soon make a surprise return to the dugout in League Two.
Darrell Clarke has been sacked as Bristol Rovers boss
Bristol Rovers were relegated from League One last season in 22nd place as they lost nine of their final 10 games of the season and Inigo Calderon was sacked.
Darrell Clarke took over at Rovers almost immediately ahead of pre-season, but has been unable to get them firing in the fourth-tier as yet and has now also been relieved of his duties.
Their 3-0 loss to promotion-chasing Swindon Town on Saturday was the catalyst for his exit after a torrid run of 10 league defeats in a row.
The Gas are 23rd in League Two with just five wins from 20 league matches so far, so their next boss clearly has a real job on his hands to steer them to safety and towards being promotion contenders.
Pulis is in the running for Bristol Rovers return
According to the latest odds from one particular bookmaker, ex-Stoke and Palace boss Pulis is the fifth favourite to next take charge at the Memorial Stadium at 10/1.
He played 150 times for the club across two spells in the 1970s and 80s, but trails the likes of Jon Brady (4/5), Matt Bloomfield (11/8), Steve Evans (6/1) and Mike Dodds (8/1) in the odds to be the next Rovers manager.
Pulis is now 67 years old and announced his retirement from management back in 2023, but may well be open to a shock return to a club that is likely to mean a lot to him after he emerged from their youth system back in the day.