Based on Joey Barton’s post-match comments on Tuesday it promises to be a very different-looking Bristol Rovers squad when the 2021/22 season kicks.
Unfortunately, that campaign will almost certainly be in League Two which will come with its own restrictions and financial considerations.
As while Barton may be planning major surgery on the team, certain individuals may need to be sold to balance books and/or fulfil player’s wishes to stay in League One.
Wael Al-Qadi has promised a competitive and strong budget to work with as the Gas will be expected to make an immediate return to the third tier, given their size, status, reputation and resources.
But there is also the subject of free agents as Rovers have 11 first-team players who will be out of contract on June 30 and looking for new clubs.
The Gas do hold an option on Pablo Martinez, which is likely to be activated given the 20-year-old’s encouraging performances down the season stretch.
There will be decisions to be made on a number of key individuals, however, who have made significant impacts in the blue and white quarters since arriving at the club.
The opposite is also true of others with at least one millstone of a contract finally to be released from around the neck of the club.
You can see the full list below …
Kyle Bennett
The winger has spent the season on loan at Grimsby Town with his last appearance for the Gas on March 7, 2020.
Tom Davies
After an injury-ravaged 2020, the centre-back was loaned out in January to League Two Barrow where he has made 12 starts.
Josh Hare
Just as Hare was establishing himself as a force down the right-hand side for Rovers he suffered a crippling ACL injury in September 2019 and since then has struggled to hold down a first-team place.
Michael Kelly
The young defender has spent the second half of the season on loan at National League Yeovil, where he has played 11 games, with nine starts.
Ali Koiki
There was a degree of intrigue over the arrival of the young defender on a free transfer from Burnley in October but he’s been beset by knee problems and has been limited to just three league starts.
Mark Little
The veteran full-back is a popular figure at the Mem, heavily involved in the Community Trust, but has struggled with niggling injury issues for much of his time at the Gas.
Luke Leahy
Rovers’ top-scorer with 10 goals in all competitions, Leahy has also been the club’s captain following Max Ehmer’s loss of form and shoulder problems.
Pablo Martinez (club hold one-year option)
A genuine success story of this wretched season with the 20-year-old performing admirably as a defensive midfielder and at centre-back, his more natural position.
Abu Ogogo
The defensive midfielder, who wasn’t given a squad number at the start of the season, was recalled from loan at Dagenham & Redbridge by Paul Tisdale but hasn’t featured since Joey Barton took over.
Ed Upson
A near-mainstay in the Rovers team since arriving in the summer of 2018, Upson has made 121 appearances for the Gas scoring five goals. Is currently suspended following his red card against Lincoln.
Jordi van Stappershoef
The Dutchman has been deputy to Anssi Jaakkola since signing on a free transfer in summer 2019 and last featured in the 2-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.
