Graham Coughlan has poured cold water on hopes Bristol Rovers could sign any players on today’s transfer deadline day.
The transfer window in League One and League Two closes at 5pm today and unless Coughlan’s phone rings off the hook during the course of the day with clubs interested in taking his players there is unlikely to be anyone else coming in.
The Gas have signed eight players this summer, adding goalkeepers Anssi Jaakkola and Jordi van Stappershoef, defenders Mark Little, Tom Davies, Josh Hare and Luke Leahy and bringing in loan strikers Tyler Smith from Sheffield United and Victor Adeboyejo from Barnsley.
Gavin Reilly has gone the other way, joining League Two Cheltenham Town on loan for the season.
The manager has admitted there are plenty of targets he would like to acquire but to do so players must go out first, leaving the club in a merry-go-round situation with no one turning on the power to move the large cogs, while transfer deadline ticks ever closer.
There could be ins and outs at the Memorial Stadium today but it seems unlikely at this time.
Speaking on deadline day, Coughlan said: “It is Monday morning, my process today is preparing for the game tomorrow night [Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy] so that doesn’t change.
“I will be very, very surprised if I am able to add to the squad to be honest.
“I am more than happy with the group of boys I have got. Yes we want to keep improving, yes we want to keep touching it up. We are threadbare at the moment. That is what it is, that is the nature of the beast.
“I can’t do what a lot of other managers can do, but what a lot of managers don’t have is this group of boys, I do, and I am lucky I get to work with them every day of the week.
“They come in and give their all for me, for the club and for the cause. With that honesty, with that hard work and with that little bit of talent we all possess we can hopefully do something.”
Kyle Bennett was one player who looked on his way out having spent the second half of last season at Swindon Town and Robins manager Richie Wellens confirmed he would like to sign the winger but was struggling to find the finances to land a player who is one of the club's higher earners.
Bennett began the season in the Rovers starting XI but since the switch to a 5-3-2 formation for the home game against Tranmere has been unable to find a place in the team.
