Having gone from club to club during the four decades of his career in football, after leaving the Millers in March, Evans paused before taking another job to work on his health following a conversation with a doctor.
“[I am] feeling absolutely incredible,” Evans added. “It’s been a big journey.
“A contribution of static biking, walking the dogs at home and swimming so that journey must continue because I want to see my four-and-a-half-year-old grandson when he’s 21.”
When Evans’ daughter told him she was pregnant with the first of his four grandchildren, he can recall a friend who already had grandchildren telling him how much becoming a grandfather would change “everything you think about”.
“It’s taken a little while for it to transform me, medically and weight wise, but it’s certainly worked,” he said.
“Our grandkids stay over one night every week so it’s mayhem in our house – there’ll be nothing more than me being the Poppy going home on the back of Bristol Rovers winning a game and seeing my grandkids.
“They’re already sending me videos of the kids saying, ‘Up the Gas’.”
Although he added “time will tell” if the weight loss has changed his often brash, no-nonsense managerial style and manner as well as his physical appearance.