Ex-Burnley midfielder Joey Barton has been sacked by League One Bristol Rovers after nearly three years in charge.

The Gas find themselves 16th in the table, having won four games since the start of the campaign.

Barton guided the club to promotion from League Two in his first full season in charge at the Memorial Stadium.

An official statement read: “Bristol Rovers can confirm that the club has relieved first-team manager Joey Barton of his duties.

"Everyone at the club would like to thank Joey for all his efforts and wish him well in the future.”

Rovers drew 1-1 against Stevenage on Tuesday night, with Chris Martin cancelling out Jamie Reid’s opener.

Barton said after the final whistle: “It was a great finish from Chris Martin, but I thought our performance in the second-half warranted that.

“I think we were unfortunate not to win the game. I thought we were guilty of maybe not capitalising on some good moments in the first-half.

“It was a big moment because we got a little bit nervy after that. But I thought when we made the changes at half-time, I felt it really lifted the performance.”

He added: “We were pushing for the whole of the second-half, it would have been a travesty had they managed to see that out. But thankfully we’ve got an equaliser.”

First-team coach Andy Mangan will take charge of the side on an interim basis while the club carries out its search for a new boss. He will be assisted by Glenn Whelan, Danny Ventre and Anssi Jaakkola.

Mangan’s first game in the dugout takes place this weekend when Rovers host 19th-place Northampton in league action.

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