So here are the players that have been released following the end of their contract.... Adam Smith Sam Slocombe Tom Lockyer Daniel Leadbitter Alfie Clarke Stuart Sinclair Chris Lines Connor Jones Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist James Spruce. The following players are also out of contract but have been offered new deals and are pending outcomes.... James Clarke Joe Partington Deon Moore. The following players had clauses in their contracts that included an option for the club to extend their contracts, which the club has exercised... Alexis Andre-Jr Liam Armstrong Ben Morgan Alfie Kilgour Rollin Menayese Cameron Hargreaves Rhys Kavanagh. Players that were out on loan have now returned back to Rovers and are still under contract. These are.... Stefan Payne Kyle Bennett Sam Matthews Bernard Mensah. Loanees Jack Bonham and Alex Jakubiak have both reached the end of their loan deals and have returned to their parent clubs Brentford and Watford respectively. Everyone else not mentioned are still under contract with the club.
So this is our squad that we are left with, pending new contract agreements. (Not included U18's). Keepers: Alexis Andre Armstrong Defenders: Holmes-Dennis Kelly Craig Kilgour Menayese Morgan Bailey J.Clarke *pending new contract Partington *pending new contract Midfielders: Upson O.Clarke Sercombe Ogogo Rodman Matthews Bennett Russe Hargreaves Widdrington Strikers: Clarke-Harris Reilly Nichols Payne Mensah Moore *pending new contract Kavanagh
So, I reckon as an absolute minimum we shall require a Goalie, a good centre half and a 'sniffer' to compliment Clarke - Harris up top.
Sadly it hasn't worked out with him for some reason - when he can be arsed, he can be quite a useful player, and this is obviously what was hoped for when he was signed, but as with some players, he's never really gelled with us, has a very disappointing attitude and no consistency in his performances. Alienating himself from the fanbase did him no favours whatsoever, and I'm not sure that can ever be repaired, so I would say the best option might be to offload, if the opportunity arises.
Can you imagine the partnership of Payne and JCH if Payne could be arsed to give his all for the club! I think a lot of defences would be scared!
Odd one Payne. Played really well for us, scored 15 odd goals then went through big dry patch mixed amongst an injury and January signings. Then he moved to you at our annoyance, did f.a for you and came back on loan and ended up not even on the bench - just looked like he wanted to be elsewhere. Sadly we were not providing strikers with decent balls in at the time so he didn't get many opportunities. I think if they can get a sports psychologist in such as Steve Peters, who held out Ronnie O'Sullivan then he might well be a cracking player. Alternatively with squad changes you might well end up with a decent player again.
11 out none in is anybody else wondering how good our U23s are. Notice James Clarke spoke positively about their stadium and training facilities
I like Nicholls I know I am in the minority and we wouldn't be lucky enough to get rid of Pain sorry Payne
Does any body else feel like I do that Partington and Moore are also going to leave. 11 players plus 2 loan players who have left the club leaves us very bare on numbers. 1 player in. at this rate I think we will be relegated before Christmas. No GK no cover for central defence 2 LBs 4CMF and 1 winger 3 strikers. That leaves Payne, Bennett Mensah and Matthews. Payne and Mensah have been told to look for another club Bennett is wanted by Swindon that leaves Matthews who I personally hope stay as I believe he is a very good player waiting to develop
Rovers always seem to leave the bulk of their summer signings to the last minute, I’m sure that they have this misguided notion that by doing this they will get players ‘in on the cheap’. All this seems to do from my point of view though is to assemble a mumbo jumbo selection of footballers that the manager has to quickly get to know and ‘mould’ in to something that resembles a competitive outfit and this in my opinion is why we always seem to struggle out of the blocks.
Which is why we always seem to struggle at the start of the season and why we seem to do well as the season goes on.
13 players gone 1 still to make up his mind and only 4 in and there are only 11 of the players listed above who are first team regulars last season
