Lee Cattermole appointed interim Manager of Bristol Rovers
- The ex-Sunderland midfielder will share the role with David Horseman, former manager of Forest Green Rovers
- Cattermole was given the role just four days after joining the club as a first-team coach
Bristol Rovers have named Lee Cattermole interim manager, just four days after the former Premier League midfielder joined the club as a first-team coach.
Cattermole — who arrived at the EFL League One side on 12th December — was initially brought in to drive the development and implementation of set pieces. His new appointment comes after the departure of manager Matt Taylor and his assistant Wayne Carlisle on 16th December.
Fellow first-team coach David Horseman will share the interim manager role with Cattermole at Bristol, with the duo taking charge as the club seeks a permanent successor to Taylor.
Before moving into coaching, Cattermole enjoyed a successful playing career with the likes of Middlesbrough, Wigan, and Sunderland. The 36-year-old was part of Sunderland’s squad between 2009 and 2019, spending several seasons in the Premier League. After chalking up more than 260 appearances for the club, Cattermole moved to Dutch outfit VVV-Venlo, where he ended his playing career in 2020.
That same year, the UEFA A Licence holder’s first post-playing position saw him return to his former club Middlesbrough in an Academy coaching role. Cattermole later led Boro’s U18s team and has worked with the U18s squad at Burnley — he has also coached Northern Ireland’s U17s at the international level.
Alongside Horseman, Cattermole now takes on a new challenge at the helm of the Pirates.
On Saturday 14th December, Bristol Rovers suffered a 2-0 defeat to Birmingham City, marking their third consecutive defeat in a league game. Having secured only one win in their last seven league matches, the club currently sits in 20th place in the table.
Cattermole and Horseman will hope to inspire a turnaround in fortunes as they strive to steer the Gas away from relegation danger. Their leadership and experience will be crucial assets to the club while it navigates the search for a permanent manager.
The interim managers’ first game in charge will take place at home against Wrexham on Saturday 21st December. We wish Lee and David all the best at Bristol Rovers.
