Bristol Rovers coach Andy Mangan has revealed new signing James Connolly was a long-standing transfer target for Joey Barton and his staff.
The defender joined Rovers on loan from Cardiff City on Saturday, 90 minutes before the Gas kicked off against Peterborough United.
Connolly made his debut, playing 90 minutes and giving a positive early impression up against a very stern test in his first game in senior professional football.
The 20-year-old will spend the rest of the season with Rovers, and first-team coach Mangan – standing in for Barton on Saturday after the manager tested positive for COVID-19 – said Connolly was a player they were tracking before he joined the Bluebirds in the summer.
"James is a really good player," Mangan said. "He’s been on our radar since he played at Blackburn. We’ve got him on loan from Cardiff and he can play in the four, and he can play centre-back. He’s a big boy and he can pass with both feet and he competes.
"He’ll be a really good signing for us, someone who will come in and definitely contribute for the rest of the season."
Connolly came through the ranks at Ewood Park. He was a regular fixture in the under-23s squad before being released last summer. He quickly signed for Cardiff on a one-year deal, becoming captain of the Bluebirds' development side.
The defender was Rovers' second signing of the January transfer window, following Ryan Loft through the gates at The Quarters after the striker joined from Scunthorpe United last week.
And with players coming back from illness, injury and suspension in the coming weeks, Mangan believes Rovers are poised to climb the table in the second half of the season.
"We’ve got an awful lot of boys coming back from COVID and suspension and a lot of lads are coming back from injury so the squad is looking really strong at the moment," he added.
"We’re very excited for the rest of the season. In the last 10 games the fans have seen a massive desire and a will to win.
"It’s time. With just a little bit more time on the training ground and the lads are understanding what they’re very good at and what we need to work on.
"The lads have been superb. The team spirit in and around the training ground, it’s awesome. There has been a big shift at the football club and we are ready to move forward. The culture of the team is excellent.
"There are going to be a couple more moments, it’s not going to be all plain sailing from here. We have to work very hard on the pitch and once the performances come, the results will come."
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