Ben Garner has confirmed there is no way back for Abu Ogogo at Bristol Rovers after the exiled midfielder failed to secure a move away from the club before Friday's deadline.
The 30-year-old was informed before the Gas returned for pre-season he would not feature in Garner's plans, with the former Coventry City man allowed to pursue a move away from the club and not given a squad number.
But he remains on Rovers' books and with the EFL transfer window closed, fans questioned whether Ogogo could be reintegrated into Garner's squad.
However, the Gas boss has confirmed he will not be adding Ogogo to his ranks with salary cap squad lists to be submitted before the end of the week.
"Everyone has got to register a squad of 22 players this week with the EFL, and anyone over the age of 21 is registered within that squad," Garner told Bristol Live.
"Abu Ogogo won’t be part of that squad, nothing’s changed in his circumstance.
"Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to secure a move at the moment or find a new club, but he could still do that moving forwards, certainly looking ahead into January."
Ogogo's contract at the Mem is believed to expire next summer. The energetic central midfielder has made 49 appearances since joining the Gas midway through the 2018/19 season under Graham Coughlan.
He scored three goals in the process and became a popular figure among the fanbase, but Garner made the decision during lockdown to move on to other options.
Kyle Bennett was also allowed to leave the club, and he joined League Two Grimsby Town earlier this month. Neither man had trained with Rovers since thee club returned for pre-season in July.
“It was purely a football decision to be honest,” Garner told Bristol Live in August. “I spoke to them both early in lockdown and was honest with them.
“Both are great lads, both are good characters and I think they appreciated the honesty. It was just a case of they don’t fit what we want to do moving forwards.
“We wish them the best of luck with their future career and we’ll try to help them in that process in terms of finding a new club and going somewhere where they’re going to play and enjoy their football.”
