The Bristol Post has reported that Rovers manager Darrell Clarke had a “personal bereavement” the night before the team’s defeat yesterday at Chesterfield. There have been reports of the nature of that bereavement but I have no wish to search the internet in general or social networks in particular to confirm just who it was. It’s none of my business. Whoever Clarke has lost is the business of himself and his family. We can just pass on our condolences, as I do here.
I will say that it must have taken an extraordinary level of strength for him to manage the side on Saturday. I am quite certain that the decision to do so was his and his alone because that appears to be the nature of the club’s new owners. To be fair, I don’t doubt that the old guard, led by Nick Higgs, would have shown similar sympathy. There are a lot of things more important in life than football.
It is right to offer our sympathy in an unobtrusive way. Of course it is. No one wants to see a good man (or woman) suffer a close family bereavement. If Clarke needs time away from the club following this sad news, then he should have it. A few days, weeks even. You are not weak if you need time away from the day job. Few of us know Clarke’s personal circumstances. It will be a matter for him in consultation with the club. Anyway, there is a back room team around the manager who could easily assume the his duties for as long as it takes. Football should be the last thing on his mind unless he says otherwise and maybe he will.
If Clarke judges that he would be in a better place at work, then that would be fine too. I have worked with people who have done just that and I have worked with others who have taken lengthy absences. Both were right. We’re all different.
I am sure the media will keep a respectful distance and let matters unfold in private. These are very sad times for Darrell Clarke and in the end Darrell Clarke’s well-being, along with that of his family, is really all that matters.