Paul James Raynor (born 29 April 1966) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He has worked as assistant manager under Steve Evans at Rotherham United, Leeds United, Mansfield Town, Peterborough United, Gillingham and Stevenage. He is currently assistant head coach at Bristol Rovers.
Career He played in the Football League for Nottingham Forest, Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Swansea City, Wrexham, Cambridge United, Preston North End (where he briefly played alongside a young David Beckham), and Leyton Orient. He also spent a year in the Chinese Jia-A League with Guangdong Hongyuan.
After leaving Leyton Orient, Raynor moved into non-League football with clubs including Kettering Town, Ilkeston Town, Boston United, King's Lynn, Hednesford Town, where he spent a few months as player-manager, Gainsborough Trinity, Ossett Albion, and then King's Lynn again, to be released at the end of the 2002–03 season, only to rejoin for the next.
Coaching career Raynor has coached at clubs Sheffield United and Boston United, where he was assistant manager for a time to Steve Evans. In May 2007 Evans and Raynor left Boston to take over as manager and assistant at Crawley Town, where he occasionally appeared as a player in the Conference. The pair subsequently moved to Rotherham United. On 28 September 2015, Raynor left Rotherham. On 19 October 2015, Raynor joined fellow Championship side Leeds United, once again as assistant to Evans. On 31 May 2016, Evans and Raynor were both sacked by Leeds owner Massimo Cellino, with Evans becoming the sixth manager sacked by Cellino in two years.
In June 2019 Raynor linked up with Evans once again at Gillingham. Both departed the club on 9 January 2022.
In December 2025, Raynor followed Evans to League Two club Bristol Rovers as assistant head coach on a short-term deal until the end of the season. Having guided the club to safety, the duo signed a new two-year deal in April 2026.
Personal life On 1 October 2026, Raynor revealed that he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer and that he would undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy, starting later in the month.
Honours Swansea City Football League Fourth Division play-offs: 1988
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