Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce Jon Stead and Rhys Carr have joined the Club as men's first team Assistant Head Coaches.
The pair will work closely alongside Head Coach Darrell Clarke as the Pirates prepare for the 2025/26 campaign.
Stead joins the Gas after leaving Sky Bet League One outfit Barnsley after the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, where he worked with Clarke.
The 42-year-old enjoyed a successful playing career, making over 700 appearances in all competitions and playing in the Premier League for Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Sheffield United.
Stead retired from playing in 2021 and had a spell in the United States working at Hartford Athletic and Tampa Bay Rowdies before moving to Barnsley.
Meanwhile, Carr most recently spent seven months at Sky Bet Championship outfit Coventry City, where he worked as a first-team coach under Mark Robins before taking over as Interim Head Coach for three fixtures.
Carr returns to Rovers after previously working as the Lead Professional Development Phase Coach at the Club before moving to Premier League team Wolves as an Elite Player Development Coach. He has also gained experience on the international stage after a spell at the Republic of Ireland Women's side as Assistant Coach.
Before his first spell at Rovers, the 38-year-old spent almost two years at Sheffield United as an Individual Development Coach and had time at Swansea, Cardiff City and Bristol City.
Speaking on the appointments, Ricky Martin said: ""We're delighted to welcome Jon and Rhys to the Club, with both arriving with a vast amount of high-level coaching experience within the industry.
"Work at the training ground has not stopped since the end of the season, with everyone working tirelessly to ensure the Club starts pre-season positively. The appointment of two Assistant Coaches of such quality is another step in this process."
Everyone at Bristol Rovers welcomes Jon and Rhys to the Club and wishes them every success in their new roles.
