FOREST GREEN boss Mark Cooper insists sacked Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke will be back to work sooner rather than later.

Clarke has left his role as manager of Bristol Rovers after four-and-a-half years in charge.

Having overseen their relegation from the EFL in 2014, Clarke guided Rovers to successive promotions to League One.

Cooper said: "They’ll (Bristol Rovers) probably go and get a foreign manager and if you ask most British managers in the EFL they have to go through an awful lot of time and expense to get their coaching qualifications and it takes years and years.

"Any foreign manager can come in and take one of our jobs and I’m not sure we can do that in their lower leagues.

“It’s disappointing for Darrell Clarke he's done a brilliant job at Bristol Rovers in a really frustrating season for him, and I’m sure he’ll be back in work."

Bristol Rovers statement said: "After much soul-searching and lengthy deliberations it has been mutually agreed that it is probably in the best interests of the club and of Darrell Clarke to seek a fresh way forward," said a Bristol Rovers statement.

"Darrell will remain a friend of the club and will no doubt achieve further success in his career after a deserved break.

"The board is expecting substantial interest in the vacant manager's role and an appointment will be made as soon as practical."

A further statement added that outgoing number two Marcus Stewart had "asked to be released from his contract" and the club had "reluctantly agreed".