place, and Clarke extended his contract at the club to another season. Clarke's pre-season signings for 2012–13 included Jamie White from Winchester City, James Clarke from Oxford City, and Theo Lewis after his release from Cheltenham Town. These signings proved successful, and helped to take Salisbury into second place in the Conference South by April. The team's success saw him strongly linked with the vacant management position at Hartlepool United in October 2012, though he ultimately remained at Salisbury. The club finished four points behind champions Welling United, and had to make do with a play-off place. Promotion was secured with a 3–2 extra-time victory over Dover Athletic in the play-off final. Bristol Rovers In June 2013, Clarke was appointed as assistant manager of League Two club Bristol Rovers, supporting John Ward. Following another season of struggle at Rovers, Ward was moved to a role as Director of football and was replaced as manager by Clarke in March 2014. His first game on 29 March ended with a 1–0 victory over Morecambe at the Memorial Stadium, and Clarke said that "I tried to get my philosophy across today and I think we did it in spells and we need to more of that". Rovers were relegated out of the Football League on the final day of the 2013–14 after a 1–0 defeat to Mansfield Town; a draw would have been enough to keep the club up, as they were relegated on goal difference. He oversaw a rapid turnover of players for the 2014–15 season, releasing 16 players and signing 13 players on free transfers, including striker Matty Taylor. His first task however was to remove ‘Clarke Out’ posters that had been placed around the training ground by disgruntled fans. After a poor start Rovers rose up the table and ended the campaign in second place, one point behind Barnet. Clarke led Rovers to promotion with a 5–3 penalty shoot-out victory over Grimsby Town at Wembley Stadium in the 2015 Conference Premier play-off Final on 17 May 2015, following a 1–1 draw after extra time. He won three Manager of the Month awards during the season, in September, December and February. Rovers achieved a second successive promotion with a third-place finish in League Two in the 2015–16 campaign. Clarke was named as Manager of the Month for March after winning six of seven games by "playing exciting and attacking football" according