Bristol Rovers assistant manager Paul Raynor has revealed he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. The 60-year-old will begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy this month and has vowed to "try and beat this".
Diagnosis and treatment plan
Doctors told the former Swansea City midfielder that the cancer had not spread to any major organs and that the chances of success were high. Raynor, who also played for Nottingham Forest, Preston North End and Cambridge United during a 25-year playing career, submitted a sample after being persuaded by his wife, Karen.
"I was a typical man and left it, with my wife badgering me into doing it," he explained. "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."
Determination to return
Raynor plans to tackle the disease with all his strength and 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 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."
Support from Evans and a message to others
The Nottingham-born coach joined Bristol Rovers in December 2025 when Steve Evans was appointed manager. Rovers avoided relegation to the National League last season and have started well this term, sitting third in the League Two table and level on points with leaders Barnet.
The pair have worked together at nine clubs including Rotherham United, Leeds United and Stevenage, and Raynor said Evans' support has been "immense". "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.
The 60-year-old also paid tribute to his wife and urged anyone concerned about a cancer diagnosis to get tested. "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," Raynor continued.
"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."
