Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Paul Raynor has revealed he is battling bowel cancer, with the 60-year-old set to begin a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy later this month.
Raynor confirmed that medical staff had discovered a tumour but stressed that the disease had not spread to any major organs, describing this as encouraging news as he prepares for treatment.
"We're going to try and beat this," Raynor told the club's official website. "We will beat this and then be back on the grass helping the guys later in the season with a bit of luck."
The veteran coach, who has worked alongside manager Steve Evans since joining Rovers in December 2025, said he intends to remain involved with the club as much as his health allows. The pair have overseen a remarkable turnaround at the Memorial Stadium, steering the Gas away from relegation danger in the National League last season and transforming them into genuine promotion contenders in League Two this term.
"The plan is I'm going to be here as much as possible," he said. "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."
Raynor explained that the diagnosis came about after he reluctantly agreed to take a bowel cancer screening test, something he admitted he had initially put off despite encouragement from his wife.
"I was a typical man and left it, with my wife badgering me into doing it," he said. "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."
Despite the shock of the diagnosis, Raynor said he had been given reason for optimism by medical staff, who indicated that the likelihood of a successful recovery was high given that the cancer remains localized. He is now preparing to begin treatment later this month, a process that will see him undergo both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Raynor's long coaching career alongside Evans has spanned several clubs, and his arrival at Bristol Rovers last December played a key role in steadying a club that had been fighting to preserve its Football League status. Since then, the duo have overseen a resurgence that has placed Rovers among the sides pushing for promotion back to League One this season.
The club is expected to offer continued support to Raynor throughout his treatment, with the coach himself making clear his determination to stay connected to first-team affairs wherever possible. His message to supporters and colleagues has been one of defiance and hope, framing the diagnosis not as an endpoint but as another challenge to be overcome.
As Bristol Rovers continue their push for promotion, Raynor's fight against cancer is likely to become a unifying storyline for the club and its fanbase, with many expected to rally behind the respected coach as he begins what he hopes will be a successful course of treatment.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport Football.