Bristol Rovers' Paul Raynor Reveals Bowel Cancer Diagnosis
Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Paul Raynor has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, but says the disease has not spread and he plans to continue working during treatment.
Bristol Rovers assistant head coach Paul Raynor has announced he has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. The 60-year-old said doctors found a tumour and that he will begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy later this month.
Raynor said the cancer had not spread to any major organs, describing that as a "massive positive", and that he had been told the chances of success were high. He stated his intention to keep working, saying he would be at the club as much as possible, including on matchdays, if well enough.
The diagnosis followed a sample Raynor submitted after his wife Karen urged him to do so. He said he had initially put it off but a week later received an abnormal reading, leading to a full check and a consultant confirming a tumour within an hour. Raynor stressed the importance of getting tests done, noting that without the sample it could have been much worse.
Raynor joined Bristol Rovers as assistant to manager Steve Evans in December 2025. The pair helped the club avoid relegation to the National League, and this season Rovers are among the favourites for promotion from League Two. Raynor has worked with Evans at nine different clubs over 25 years, starting at Boston United and including Crawley Town, Rotherham United, Leeds United and Stevenage. He described Evans as a massive friend who has been immense in recent weeks, and thanked everyone for their support.
Image: Shutterstock / BBC Sport
