Bristol Rovers have made 12 signings this summer but there have been no major departures yet
Having seen 12 new players arrive at Bristol Rovers so far this summer, it’s been an eventful transfer window to say the least with Joey Barton adding quality, experience and depth to his squad.
Amid the transfer window’s point of expiry looming, the focus of Gasheads is currently being directed towards another potential incoming with the saga surrounding Jonson Clarke-Harris set to be resolved in the coming days, whether that sees him return to Rovers, join a different club or stay at Peterborough United
Supporters’ excitement escalated further when seeing that the former Gas striker wasn’t included in Peterborough’s squad for their Carabao Cup tie at Portsmouth last (Tuesday) night. However, it is understood that the Posh made wholesale changes from their league defeat against Derby County and Clarke-Harris’ absence offers next to no indication of a transfer being on the verge of completion.
However, despite now having the depth he called out for, Barton has an inflated squad as we enter the final days of the window.
The Rovers boss admitted that there could be outgoings before Friday evening’s deadline in his post-Wycombe press conference but who appears the most likely to depart the Mem over the coming days?
James Belshaw
The most obvious name when discussing departures right now is Belshaw’s after his falling out with the manager. Having lost his first-choice credentials in between the sticks to Matt Cox, the goalkeeper has been omitted from all matchday squads since the Carabao Cup defeat at Ipswich Town, the second game of the season.
After losing his spot, the 32-year-old quickly posed the question to both Barton and head of football operations Eddy Jennings of whether he could depart the club which has subsequently seen him removed from the group.
Although it looks incredibly likely that Belshaw won’t play for Rovers again, the only concern a potential departure would create is whether or not having two incredibly young goalkeepers as options for in between the sticks would prove suffice.
20-year-old Cox has started his first experience of playing regular first-team football well whilst current back-up Matt Hall is only eight days his senior and has never played first-team football outside of non-league.
It is unknown whether there is a recall option in Jed Ward’s season-long loan deal at National League outfit Wealdstone, however, if he was to able to be brought back in an emergency, that would add another inexperienced ‘keeper into the fold.
- Ryan Loft
Although he has managed to get some minutes this season, Loft is a player that, if the club sign a striker before the end of the window, will unfortunately seem surplus to requirements.
It is understood that the forward has received League One interest and proceedings regarding an exit could accelerate in the final days of the window.
The 25-year-old was absent from the matchday squads for the league games against Portsmouth and Wycombe, was an unused substitute against Ipswich and accumulated a total of 37 minutes from substitute appearances against Barnsley, Charlton Athletic and Cambridge United.
Granted, game time hasn’t been of the amount Loft would have liked but seven goals in 56 appearances isn’t an impressive return for a striker and is not of the level that Barton is trying to guide his side towards. Moreover, it has been over 10 months since the Englishman last scored for the Gas, netting in the Papa John’s Trophy win over Swindon Town on October 18.
- James Gibbons
Although the right-back had been injured for the best part of a month, it is understood that he is now back in training despite being absent from the matchday squad to face Wycombe last Saturday.
With the arrival of Jack Hunt and Luca Hoole starting all matches leading up to the 2-1 defeat to Wycombe, you can’t help but feel Gibbons now finds himself third-choice right-back. Subsequently, game time at Rovers looks to be limited this term.
It would be a shame to see the 25-year-old depart after just one season at the Mem but these are the difficult decisions that have to be made as a result of having plenty of bodies in the building as well as ambitions to progress up the League One table.
- Ryan Jones (loan)
Granted, it’s something that can’t be rushed as finding the right club is vital for his development but the fact that a suitor to take Jones on loan hasn’t been found yet is surprising, particularly considering that Harvey Greenslade is already halfway through his one-month loan at Truro City.
The midfielder, who can also play left-back, was included on the bench for the first three games of the season but has been absent from the matchday squads since and it’s been well documented that the club’s plan is to send the 21-year-old out on loan again to continue his development.
Having signed a new one-year contract at the Mem earlier this summer, Jones impressed in pre-season but naturally will find it incredibly difficult to get regular game time for the Gas first-team this season.
Earlier this month, assistant coach Andy Mangan confirmed that the plan was for the 21-year-old to go out on loan again, having spent most of last season in the National League South with Hungerford Town where he made 34 appearances.
Another productive loan seems the logical next step for the youngster’s development.
- Jerry Lawrence (loan)
Similarly to Jones, Lawrence is also a player expected to go out on loan after Mangan said in the same interview: “The plan is for Jerry is to go on loan. The lad needs games. He’s a wonderful boy. He’s come in as a 16/17 year-old. He’s done ever so well. He’s performed every single day in training and done everything what’s asked of him.”
Another player who impressed in pre-season, the 18-year-old had a brief loan spell at Salisbury last campaign and has made three first-team appearances to date but will find himself far down the midfield pecking order this season.
