Mark Cooper will find a sympathetic opponent tonight as the Barrow manager continues his touchline ban at Bristol Rovers.
Cooper was banned for eight games over alleged insulting words to a female assistant and completed the first of those on Saturday in the 0-0 home draw with Harrogate Town.
Joey Barton, the Rovers manager, is no stranger to controversy but feels any impact of the touchline ban on the game will be minimal.
“You’d rather be on the sidelines with your team but I’m not sure it will affect the 11 players too much once the whistle goes tonight.
“He’s got eight games to serve so they’ll be used to it after he started on Saturday, but it won’t be ideal.
“I’ve only got my experience and it makes it difficult. Certainly, it is more frustrating as a manager if you’re watching from the sidelines set back from the touchline.”
As for Cooper he said his touchline ban had no ill-effects during Saturday’s game with Harrogate when he served the first of his eight game sentence.
After the game he said: “I enjoyed it and you can see an awful lot more. I am mic’d up to the coaches so there was no impact whatsoever. It was positive and the fans looked after me.”
Cooper had also been fined £3,000 after an independent panel were of the opinion he had committed an aggravated breach of FA rules relating to abusive and insulting words referencing gender.
It was alleged he had an exchange with assistant referee Helen Edwards in the home game with Exeter City in August when he reportedly said: “You just need to realise it’s a man’s game.”
Cooper was sent to the stands and his comments were reported by referee Andrew Kitchen to the FA.
