to head judge George Burley. Promotion was achieved on the final day of the season with a stoppage-time winner against Dagenham & Redbridge, which took them above Accrington Stanley into third place. Named as the Football League manager of the week, his citation stated that "Clarke has performed wonders as his men have stormed up the table". On 27 May 2016, Clarke turned down the opportunity to manage Championship club Leeds United and signed a new three-year contract with Bristol Rovers. He had met Leeds chairman Massimo Cellino but rejected the opportunity after Cellino told him he wanted an active role in player recruitment. Speaking after an FA Cup second round defeat to National League side Barrow in December 2016, Clarke said it might be the "end of the road" for some of his squad and urged investment in the playing squad. He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 5–0 victory over Northampton Town on 7 January. However that month he lost Matty Taylor after Bristol City activated his £300,000 release clause to make Taylor the first player to move from Rovers to City in 30 years. During late March 2017, with his club sitting just outside the League One play off places, Norwich City were reported to be interested in Clarke following the sacking of previous manager Alex Neil. Whilst Clarke never turned down any potential offer he instead pledged his loyalty to Rovers instead, the announcement coming a day after his three-year anniversary of his first Rovers match in charge. Rovers finished in 10th-place in 2016–17. In June 2017, Clarke signed a new five-year contract. He was named as EFL manager of the week after overseeing a 6–0 win away at Northampton Town on 7 October despite missing his preferred centre-backs. However speaking later in December he said he felt "let down" by the club for its wage policy and infrastructure, saying they were "30 years behind" other clubs. He further admitted some of his players were struggling with the increased expectations following recent successes, though Rovers still managed to end the 2017–18 campaign in 13th-place. Billy Bodin was sold to Preston North End for an undisclosed fee in January 2018. In June 2018 he graduated with the FA's highest coaching qualification (FA Level 5 UEFA Pro). The following month he sold forward Ellis Harrison to Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee believed