Brighton’s Inigo Calderon named as Bristol Rovers’ new head coach 

ITV News' Ross Arnott spoke to new Rovers manager Iñigo Calderón

Inigo Calderon has been named as the new boss of Bristol Rovers on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Calderón was previously the under-18s head coach for Brighton & Hove Albion - the club he spent most of his playing career at. 

The Spaniard was announced as Rovers' new coach on Thursday 26 December.

The 42 year-old cancelled a Christmas trip home to be in the stands for Rovers' Boxing Day 3-1 loss to Exeter City.

Talking to ITV News West Country, the new coach said: "It's been chaotic the last days, but I have really, really good feelings. Yesterday, watching the game, I could see good things - the staff, the players, the training ground, everything is perfect. I mean it - I think there's good things to come." 

On the disrupted Christmas plans, he said: “I had to be here, that’s what I wanted, and what I need. For me the fans are the most important thing in the club, so if we can do something to make their day better we have to do it.”

During his playing days, Calderon made more than 230 appearances for Brighton and also featured for Spanish sides Alicante and Deportivo Alaves.

He retired in 2019.

The Gas are currently 19th in the League One table, three points above the relegation zone. 

Bristol Rovers will face Stevenage away on Sunday 29 December.