Cattermole joins Bristol Rovers' coaching staff

Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor says there are "huge improvements " to be made to the team's set piece play, following the appointment of former Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole as a first-team coach.

Cattermole, 39, has joined the League One side with a "focus on the development and implementation of set pieces," a club statement said.

He retired from playing in 2020 after making 272 Premier League appearances across a 15-year career.

"We all feel there's room for improvement in terms of set piece attacking and defending," Taylor told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Maybe this group of players needs fresh ideas and new voice. I'm not sure because we've tried everything twice over in terms of our attacking set pieces and we've also had chances at times. But there's also been a feeling that there's huge improvements to be made."

Taylor said Cattermole was a "club appointment" and that Thursday was the first time the pair had met.

"Looking forward to working with him. Got a fantastic reputation in the game, seems the right type of character this club wants to build around in the future," Taylor said.

"We're looking forward to what he adds to the group and what he adds to this group of players."

Cattermole ended his playing career with Dutch side VVV Vento, although he saw his final season cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019-20.

He said at the time he hoped to move into coaching and returned to Boro, working in their academy before managing their under-18s side, leaving in February 2023.

He was also part of the interim management team that took charge at the Riverside for five games when Chris Wilder was sacked in October 2022.

"Having spoken to the guys here and George Friend [director of football], I very quickly got excited about the project being developed here at the club," Cattermole said.

"Everything I've heard about Bristol Rovers tells me it's an exciting time to be part of things here, and I'm looking forward to getting going."