Bristol Rovers first-team coach Andy Mangan has denied claims that former Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Reading defender Tyler Blackett has been training with the Gas but admits Joey Barton is open to the idea of adding a free agent to his squad, should the opportunity present itself.
Rovers added two players on deadline day - Aston Villa teenager Lamare Bogarde on loan and Calum Macdonald from Rochdale - to take their numbers of signings across the January transfers window to five, but Barton’s squad remains light in the centre of defence.
Rumours had begun to circulate that Blackett, who was released by FC Cincinnati in MLS in November, has been training at The Quarters ahead of potentially signing a contract and could do so after the deadline due to his status as a free agent.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of Saturday's League One fixture against MK Dons, in response to a question as to whether Blackett has been at the club, Mangan said: “No, no, no. I just saw it the other day, to be honest (on social media). I see that.
“He’s obviously a fantastic player and if he wants to come over and wants to sign, brilliant, we’ll have to sort that one out with Tom (Gorringe, CEO) and Eddy (Jennings, head of football operations). But, a really good player, huge experience - played loads of games in the Championship and has done ever so well out there in America - and someone who we’d definitely be interested in speaking to.”
Blackett has made 137 appearances in the Championship for Forest, Reading, Birmingham City and Blackpool, has spent time on loan at Celtic, plus appeared in 12 games for Manchester United at the start of his career.
A player like him or someone of similar profile would very much make sense for the Gas given he’s a left-sided centre-back and there is only currently one of them at the club in the injured Lewis Gibson.
Mangan concedes that despite their January recruitment programme being over, the club won’t stop looking for ways to enhance their squad, as was evidenced by the acquisition of Scott Sinclair on a free transfer in October.
“If I’m being totally honest, we’ll never stop being aggressive in the transfer market,” added Mangan. “If we feel that we can improve the squad and the team for the benefit of the football club, we’re going to do it.
“For example, if Tyler Blackett is out there on a free, he’s coming back from America. I don’t know whether Wayne Rooney wants to get fit again, lads [laughs]… But, all joking aside, if someone is going to present themselves and we feel it will help us, we will not stop being aggressive to make the team better.”
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