- The former Newcastle United player was appointed Bristol manager in 2021
- The team is winless in three games after defeats against Burton and Oxford United
- Listen to the latest episode of the Mail Sport podcast ‘It all begins!’
Joey Barton has been sacked as manager of Bristol Rovers just two days after calling rival boss Steve Evans a ‘fat man’ and a ‘weeble’.
The club remain winless in their last three games and currently sit 16th in League One.
The former Newcastle United and Manchester City player made the comments towards Evans after his side’s 1-1 draw with Stevenage on Tuesday.
A statement from Bristol Rovers said: ‘Everyone at the club would like to thank Joey for all his efforts and wish him all the best in the future.’
First-team coach Andy Mangan will now lead the side as interim manager. Fellow coaches Glenn Whelan, Danny Ventre and Anssi Jaakkola will also support him.
Bristol Rovers are winless in three games and are 16th in League One under Joey Barton
Stevenage manager Steve Evans pictured during his side’s 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers
Barton, who had one managerial job at Fleetwood Town in 2018, was appointed as Bristol Rovers first-team coach in February 2021.
After his last game against Stevenage on Tuesday, he was asked what he thought of his side’s run.
He said: ‘Tonight we were disappointed that we didn’t get a foul for their first goal, disappointed that we didn’t get a penalty when the boys handballed it.’
Barton then added: ‘Obviously the fat man is lashing out at the referee, which is normal at the end of a match. Any referee at this level knows he’s going to have the little one wiggling around the field and swearing.
“But then again, I’ll have to watch it again. He complains that it’s a handball in the run-up to our goal, so maybe that’s even where the course is.’
After leading the club back to the third tier, he signed a three-year contract until 2026 in July last year. Last season they finished 17th in the table.
The former midfielder has represented City, Newcastle, QPR and Burnley and also picked up an England cap in 2007.
He also spent a period of his career at Rangers before joining Marseille in France on loan.