Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke has branded the abuse aimed at Isaac Hutchinson and his family as “disgraceful”.
The midfielder, recently loaned to Cheltenham Town, has been subjected to vile treatment that has drawn strong condemnation from both his club and manager.
Clarke Condemns Abuse
Hutchinson, 25, sealed a deadline day move to League Two rivals Cheltenham but found himself and his fiancée targeted by abusive phone calls and online messages earlier this week. Some of the posts were later deleted, though the midfielder’s partner spoke out against the harassment on social media.
Rovers issued an official statement reaffirming a zero-tolerance stance on abuse. Clarke echoed that position when speaking to the media on Friday, expressing his frustration at the broader issues surrounding online behaviour.
“Listen, it’s disgraceful to be honest with you. Sometimes society stinks. Isaac has got our full support, as does his family, and none of that will be tolerated. I wish him all the best in his loan move and I hope his family’s okay.”
Clarke stressed the problem is not unique to football, pointing instead to wider societal challenges. “It’s a social media problem that has been around for years. People can hide behind phones and messages. More needs to be done about that.”
Support for Hutchinson
Hutchinson arrived at the Memorial Stadium from Walsall in 2024 and featured 43 times across all competitions last season as Rovers were relegated from League One. This term he had already appeared in eight matches, scoring against Chesterfield and Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, before his loan switch to Cheltenham.
The Gas manager insisted the player’s welfare was paramount and urged authorities and platforms to take stronger action to prevent similar incidents. “We need to eradicate it out of the world, but I can’t see it going anywhere soon,” Clarke added.
Rovers’ official statement confirmed the club would cooperate with the EFL and police to identify those responsible. They also encouraged anyone witnessing such behaviour to report it immediately.
Writer’s View
This is a deeply concerning incident and one that highlights the toxic side of social media. Hutchinson has left temporarily to pursue footballing opportunities at Cheltenham, but he and his family should not have to endure abuse linked to professional decisions.
Clarke’s firm defence of his player underlines the importance of leadership in these moments, and Bristol Rovers’ swift response is to be applauded. While the online environment continues to present challenges, football clubs must continue to stand by their players and ensure support systems remain robust, both on and off the pitch.
