I think Friend is one of those people with experience to share with the younger players and who will probably end up as more of a coach than a player. Hopefully he'll have a few games in him, and he's a lot of experience at a higher lever which can only be a good thing. I like the way the squad is shaping up this season. It feels like we're adding quality and experience. Apparently Gavin Whyte, a Northern Irish player is one that the Irish press have said that Rovers, Pompey, Derby and Oxford are having a look at. My feeling is that if any other clubs are looking at a player, that player usually chooses another club, but with all these good signings so far, perhaps we look more like we mean business this year, and a few more players may be tempted to sign. I hope so anyway.
If McCormick is back to his best, which it sounded like he was the other day, it will almost be like another new signing.
Bristol Rovers is delighted to announce the signing of left-sided defender George Friend on a one-year deal. The free agent, 35, was previously at Championship side Birmingham City and becomes the fourth new player to sign for Rovers this summer. Born in Barnstaple, Friend started his career at Exeter City before moving to Wolves and then Doncaster Rovers prior to spending eight years at Middlesborough, where he made 266 appearances, scoring nine goals. Rovers' boss Joey Barton said: "George is a class act and his experience speaks for itself. He will make a great addition to our defensive line and I look forward to working with him."
We’re trying to sign Alfie May from Cheltenham - the last two seasons he’s been a one in two striker and in my opinion would be an excellent signing. Our squad is shaping up nicely.
Well, Alfie May has left Cheltenham but he isn't coming to us. Charlton have just signed him for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.
Jevani Brown has been fined £5,000 plus costs and compensation after admitting assault by beating on one woman and threatening behaviour towards another outside a nightclub in Exeter. Footballer Jevani Brown admits slapping and spitting at woman - BBC News I hope he puts this kind of dreadful behaviour behind him and does well for us on the pitch now that he's our player.
Friend and Sinclair played together for Rovers under 9s in 1997 wearing the Snack box shirt, more information on the Rovers web page
Jevani's statement... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
His words above kind of contradicts his statement to the court! His statement in court was blaming ALCOHOL for his actions as he was under the influence at the time of the assault and that he has been receiving counselling for alcohol issues since 2021. He said he takes full responsibility for his actions. He added if he was sober it would not have happened and apologised for his actions. The court heard he was having issues with bouncers and then a woman intervened and he then spat at her. She retaliated by pulling his hair so he slapped her leaving bruises on both sides of her face. Another woman there feared that she was next when he started approaching her intimidating her. He admitted his actions to both women and the court has given him a fine of £5,000 for the assault. He was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to the woman he assaulted and £100 to the woman threatened and intimidated, as well as £2,135 in costs and victim surcharge fees, a total of £7,485. HOWEVER... In his statement in the above images, he doesn't mention ANYWHERE that he was drunk and his actions were because of that and that he has been receiving counselling for alcohol issues for the last 2 years. Instead, he has made it out to look like he was physically and racially abused and because of a continued battle against racism, he was effected by the words he received which is why he responded the way he did. He adds that he's not trying to validate his actions.
So to the courts, he holds his hands up taking responsibility because his actions were the result of being drunk. But his personal statement after mentions no alcohol issues but puts the blame on receiving physical and racial abuses and he retaliated.
Club statement says "Bristol Rovers does not condone any act of violence, racism or intimidatory behaviour." Jevani has admitted violence by beating. He has also admitted intimidatory behaviour. He has been charged and found GUILTY for both. The club have previously said after the Barton arrest of 'apparently' beating his own wife, "We stand firmly against any form of violence. Any individual found GUILTY of any such offences will be dismissed immediately." So here you go. The club have previously said how they will respond. They still decided to sign a player with this over his head and who had admitted to violence. This is a new low for the club because although Jevani is a talented player and I have no doubts he will push us the right way in the table, the club have shown they are all mouth and no action and have no morals and lied to its fan base. Instead of acting "immediately" to dismiss such an individual as they claimed they would, they now just say they condone acts of violence and refuses to comment any further. To me, this is embarrassing and an extremely bad look for the club. Some fans may be happy to move on but the club have let themselves down and need to do a lot of rebuilding here with the fan base, especially our female supporters.
Thought JB wanted 8 signings before the season started, 4 down 4 to go and less than a month to go before the new season starts 8th August have to get a move on
