Bristol Rovers assistant Raynor diagnosed with bowel cancer but vows to stay in dugout

Bristol Rovers assistant coach Paul Raynor has publicly revealed a bowel cancer diagnosis, confirming he will begin a five-week course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy starting 12 October. The 60-year-old says the cancer has not spread to any major organs and believes his chances of recovery are high.

“It’s bowel cancer. I’m going to deal with it. I’m being positive but, as I say, there’s going to be a long road of treatment ahead,” Raynor told the club’s official website. He added that his treatment will run Monday to Friday across those five weeks, limiting his involvement in training sessions, but said he plans to be present on matchdays wherever his health allows.

Raynor described the moment of diagnosis as swift and sobering. After his wife encouraged him to get tested, an abnormal reading led to a full check-up within a week. “Within an hour, I was sat with a consultant and being told they had found a tumour,” he said. “From there, it’s been a process of different scans and moving forward.”

Despite the gravity of the situation, Raynor has been buoyed by the response from those around him. He praised the support of Macmillan nurses, medical consultants, and messages from current and former players. “That helps to keep you positive,” he said. “We’re going to try and beat this; we will beat this and then be back on the grass helping the guys later in the season.”

Raynor joined Rovers alongside manager Steve Evans in December 2025, and the pair have helped transform the club’s fortunes, steering them away from relegation danger before the end of last season. Bristol Rovers have carried that momentum into the new campaign and currently sit third in the table.

Beyond his own situation, Raynor used his announcement to urge other men not to delay seeking medical advice. “I’m a typical man, and I left it, and my missus was badgering me into doing it,” he said, adding that he hopes his story carries a “wider message” about overcoming the stigma around health checks.