I read the tweet from your club last night confirming you had let Bennett leave. I would say 95% of replies from your fans were pretty disappointed that he has gone. Sounds like a good player. I bet he gets taken by another club now who offers him more money!
please log in to view this image https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2018/february/tonycraigjoins/ Rovers have today completed the signing of free agent, Tony Craig. The former Millwall captain, who was on the bench for The Lions' goalless draw at The New Den against Derby on Tuesday evening, joins Rovers ahead of Saturday's game against Shrewsbury Town. Rovers boss Darrell Clarke said today; “I am delighted to secure the services of a very experienced player who has appeared in almost 500 senior games. The younger players in the squad will benefit from having Tony alongside them on the pitch and his influence in the dressing room. I’m sure that our supporters will enjoy seeing him in the blue and white quarters and that they will welcome him to the club.” The player said; “I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead. I have heard great things about this football club and I'm looking forward to settling into Bristol." Craig has enjoyed four spells with the club he first joined as a youngster in 2003. He went out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers prior to a move to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2007. He returned to Millwall in a one month loan deal in March 2008 and joined the club again, on a permanent basis, in July of that year. He went on loan to Leyton Orient in November 2011, and signed a permanent deal with Brentford in July 2012, going on to make over 100 appearances for the Griffin Park outfit in a three year spell with the club. July 2015 saw him return to The New Den and last season he skippered the side that clinched promotion to The Championship via the play offs as they beat Bradford City at Wembley after defeating Scunthorpe United at the semi final stage. The play off place was clinched here at The Memorial Stadium with a 4-3 win against Rovers when he scored one of the London club’s goals. Having appeared in 57 games in all competitions for The Lions last season, Tony has made four Championship and four Cup appearances this time around, his last start coming in last Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie against Rochdale.
please log in to view this image https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2018/february/kylebennettsigns/ Bristol Rovers have signed Portsmouth winger Kyle Bennett who was released, by mutual consent, from his contract with the Fratton Park outfit yesterday. Speaking at the Rovers training ground this morning, manager Darrell Clarke said of his third January signing; “I am pleased to bring Kyle to the club as he’s a player I have watched on a number of occasions over the years. He is another experienced player who has well over 200 first class appearances to his name and is a wide player who will add to our attacking options. We have signed two very talented players this week to further strengthen our squad and I am looking forward to working with them.” The player said; “I'm glad to be here and to get the deal over the line. Darrell made it clear to me from the start that he really wanted me here and as a player, you always want to be somewhere that you are wanted and that was a massive factor in me joining." Kyle joined Wolves as a seven year old, but although and signed a pro contract with the club on his 17th Birthday. However, he was unable to make the breakthrough into the first team at Molineux and joined Bury in the summer of 2010. One year later he signed for Doncaster Rovers and went on to score 32 goals in over 100 league appearances whilst at The Keepmoat Stadium. During the 2013/14 campaign there were loan spells with Crawley Town and Bradford City. There were 50 appearances in all competitions for Doncaster in 2014/15 before a move to Portsmouth at the end of that season. A key member of Portsmouth’s League Two Championship winning side last season, he has made 99 league appearances for the Fratton Park outfit, the last of which came on New Year’s Day when his side were beaten 2-1 at The Memorial Stadium.
I think the club have done really well over these two deals. OK, brinkmanship was at the fore and everyone seemed to be going hysterical over the lack of info, but that seems to be the quiet way that DC likes to work. Rovers have been gifted a financial miracle. The push for the playoffs could now be on! Some of these clubs in yesterday's market are going to have the Matty Taylor problem. Footballers want to play football, not watch their club colleagues doing it! The subsequent discontent can disrupt the team. I remember as a youngster that Rover's always seemed to harvest their youngsters from the Welsh areas. This left our area open to City. And did they not take advantage. Any kid with any sign of promise was signed up. So numerous kids turned up with the promise to play for them on a Saturday morning only to find that most of the time there were too many to actually get on the pitch!! For my mates, the stupidity soon became obvious and they signed on elsewhere!!
Don't know whether I was being conned but I was talking to a junior team coach with the City and he said that one reason why English clubs no longer sign young welsh players is because they have to pay a fee of £10000 for every year they have spent in a junior football league team so this puts of teams like city and Rovers from scouting junior football across the bridge. Fact or fiction I don't Know
Just listened to DCs interview about the Shrewsbury match on Saturday and DC said Kyle Bennett was the player who phoned him in the evening and changed his mind about joining us just after Bodin had left and a Fee had been agreed with Yeovil for Khan but the player elected to stay at Yeovil
Im glad Khan didn't come. I don't rate him. Also shows lack of ambition not wanting to move up. But shows loyalty at the same time which is rare.
All done and thankfully no loans,DC got what he wanted and by doing so has brought in experience for the next two years, by then our loans who are now playing adult football and will be learning and also getting some experience instead of sitting on the bench,The fact is they are now expected to show talent and have extended contracts, these loanees will not be under pressure to impress and hoping for a renewal. DC is planning our clubs future for it to be as he wants with these young players the future. Not many of the loan players we have had in the past have stayed at the Mem and all the experience they got has moved with them back to their home clubs
No wonder a few Championship clubs were looking at him. Great first touch, great turn of speed and some quality goals...happy days...
