John Patrick Ward (born 7 April 1951) is an English football manager and retired player. A forward during his playing days, Ward appeared in the Football League for Lincoln City, Workington, Watford and Grimsby Town, in which he scored 100 goals in 282 appearances. Having served under Graham Taylor at Watford and Aston Villa as assistant manager, he went on to manage York City and Bristol Rovers before being appointed as assistant at Burnley. Time in charge at Bristol City followed and he then served as assistant at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ward went on to manage at Cheltenham Town, Carlisle United and Colchester United over a nine-year period before returning to Bristol Rovers, initially as manager before, briefly, becoming the club's Director of Football.