Cheltenham Manager Darrell Clarke Reflects on “Gut-Wrenching” Relegation to League Two

Cheltenham Town’s relegation to League Two on the final day of the season has left manager Darrell Clarke feeling “gut-wrenched” for the club and its supporters.

Clarke, who took over in September with the goal of keeping the Robins in League One, expressed his disappointment after a 2-1 defeat to Stevenage sealed their fate. Despite a valiant effort to secure a great escape, Cheltenham fell just two points short of safety.

Speaking to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Clarke said, “To miss out by a couple of points is gut-wrenching but the table doesn’t lie after 46 games. The boys have given me everything since I’ve been in the building, but we just missed out.”

The manager was unable to confirm his future at the club, stating that now was not the time to discuss it. He emphasized the need to reflect on the season and have discussions with the chairman and stakeholders about the way forward.

Despite winning 12 of his 35 games in charge, Clarke acknowledged that the team lacked consistency in quality throughout the season. He praised the players for their heart, desire, and application on the pitch but admitted they fell short of the target of 15 wins he had set for safety.

Looking ahead, Clarke remained optimistic about the club’s future, saying, “Tough day for the football club but it’s a great club and I’m sure we’ll bounce back.” As Cheltenham prepares for life in League Two, the focus will now shift to rebuilding and aiming for a swift return to the third tier of English football.