Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Paul Raynor diagnosed with bowel cancer

Paul Raynor, the 60-year-old assistant head coach of Bristol Rovers, has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, the club announced on 1 October 2026.

Doctors told Raynor they had found a tumour and that the cancer had not spread to any major organs, which he described as a "massive positive" and said he had been told the chances of success were high. "We're going to try and beat this," Raynor told the club website.

Raynor set out his intention to remain involved with the team where possible, saying: "We will beat this and then be back on the grass helping the guys later in the season with a bit of luck. "The plan is I'm going to be here as much as possible. I'm going to be there on matchdays, and I aim to be and I want to be. If I'm well enough, I certainly will be."

He joined Rovers boss Steve Evans at the Memorial Stadium in December 2025 and played a part in helping the club avoid relegation to the National League. The club are described as among the favourites for promotion from League Two this season.

Raynor said the cancer was detected after he submitted a sample, recounting: "I was a typical man and left it, with my wife badgering me into doing it," Raynor added. "So I did it and a week later I was told there was an abnormal reading, and I had to go in for a full check. Within an hour, I was sat with a consultant and being told they had found a tumour."

He has worked with Evans at nine different clubs, starting at Boston United and later including Crawley Town, Rotherham United, Leeds United and Stevenage. "I've known and worked with the gaffer for 25 years and he's a massive friend and these last few weeks he's been absolutely immense but everyone has," Raynor added. "If it wasn't for my good lady Karen I wouldn't have sent the sample off and it could've been too late and the ramifications could be anything. They're telling me there's a good chance it's curable but if I hadn't done that sample it could've been a lot, lot worse. "The message is, get your samples done, whatever tests you need go and get it done because it's massively important."

Raynor will undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy starting later this month and said he aims to attend matchdays and hopes to return to coaching on the grass later in the season.