With promotion out of reach and the relegation zone 10 points behind them – albeit with safety not yet secured – Bristol Rovers are on course to spend next season in League One with nine games to play. And after successive defeats to Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth last week, Joey Barton admitted he wished he could look solely to the future.
"I'll level with you, I wish it was the end of the season,” the Gas manager told reporters after the 2-0 loss to Pompey on Saturday. "We can’t really get promoted, it doesn’t look like we’re going to get in the relegation battle. I’ve just got to the point where you want to set the targets for next year. There’s nothing worse with nothing to play for with nine games to go."
With Rovers seven points shy of his 52-point target, Barton has to think of the here and now as well as what the future holds. But while the Gas have a little bit of work to ensure a place above the dotted line, he is right to recognise that a crucial period looms beyond the end of the campaign, with another transitional phase on the cards on and off the training pitches at The Quarters.
Goalkeeper
Under contract for 2023/24: James Belshaw, Jed Ward
Out of contract: Anssi Jaakkola
End of loan: Ellery Balcombe
What lies ahead: James Belshaw has regained the number one spot from Brentford loanee Ellery Balcombe in recent weeks, but the situation has underlined Barton's wish to have competition for the gloves and he perceived Belshaw's place in the team was too comfortable when goalkeeping coach Anssi Jaakkola was covering cover.
With Balcombe to return to his parent club at the end of the season and Jaakkola's playing contract nearing an end, the Gas are sure to be in the market for a goalkeeper in the summer as they were in January. However, the extra factor to consider this time is Jed Ward, who has been hugely impressive on loan at National League South side Hungerford Town, with the 19-year-old's performances between the posts boosting the Crusaders' chances of avoiding relegation.
Barton has confirmed Ward will get his chance to impress in pre-season. Is he ready for the number-one role at League One level? Probably not. Could he be a very capable backup? Yes, but Rovers would likely prefer to get him out on loan in the National League to ensure he is developing with the benefit of regular football.
Defence
Under contract for 2023/24: Luca Hoole, James Gibbons, James Connolly, Lewis Gordon, Trevor Clarke
Out of contract: Calum MacDonald, Josh Grant, Jamie Egan
End of loan: Jarell Quansah, Lewis Gibson
What lies ahead: Rovers' biggest losses in defence will be the end of Quansah and Gibson's loans. The past two games have been disappointing for Rovers as a whole and Quansah's red card compounded the frustration, but the Liverpool and Everton loanees have probably been their best central defensive partnership this season.
The Gas would like to have both of them back next season, but it is hard to see both being available to League One clubs in the summer, Liverpool may want to work with Quansah internally after his first taste of senior football, while Gibson – whose contract at Goodison Park is coming to an end – has shown he is a Championship-standard defender when he is fit and available.
Regardless, centre-back will be a primary area of focus when the transfer window opens.
In Hoole, Gibbons, Connolly and Gordon, the Gas have the services of four good options secured, while Trevor Clarke's future likely lies away from the Mem when his loan to Shamrock Rovers expires in the autumn.
MacDonald is yet to show whether he merits a new contract when his short-term deal expires at the end of the season, while youngster Jamie Egan is likely to be released. Josh Grant, though, is making his way back from double knee surgery and Barton is known to rate the versatile former Chelsea product very highly and he is set to be offered a new contract.
Midfield
Under contract for 2023/24: Sam Finley, Jordan Rossiter, Antony Evans, Luke McCormick, Jerry Lawrence
Out of contract: Grant Ward, Harry Anderson, Paul Coutts, Ryan Jones, Alex Rodman
End of loan: Lamare Bogarde
What lies ahead: Coutts and Anderson, huge contributors to last season's promotion, have continued to play a big part when not sidelined by injuries this season. Both men are out of contract and the end of the season and their futures are uncertain at this stage.
Ward is another player with experience and ability who is not contracted beyond the end of this campaign. Rovers will be eager to lose neither him nor Coutts, but if they lost one or both then significant efforts would be required to fortify the midfield.
One boost should be the return of Rossiter to regular action after his debut season with the Gas has ben blighted by injury. Rossiter's importance to the Gas was clear when he was on the pitch, and his absence for the whole of 2023 so far has only amplified what Rovers miss when he has been absent.
Finley agreed to new terms earlier in this season and Evans and McCormick are under contract until 2025; the latter will hope his second season since returning from AFC Wimbledon is more fruitful than the frustrating campaign he has endured so far.
Youngster Lawrence has dabbled in first-team action at various points this season and the 18-year-old has got a bit more experience on loan in non-league, too. He will get his chance to impress in pre-season, while Jones – a significant investment from Weston-super-Mare in 2020 – will hope his performances on loan at Hungerford Town in the National League South earn him a new contract.
Bogarde is an interesting case. The Dutchman has been impressive since joining on loan from Aston Villa in January. With the Villa first-team a huge step up in standard, could another loan spell with the Gas be the right move for all parties? The Gas would certainly consider it if the option is on the table.
Alex Rodman will be released after not being part of Barton's thinking all season.
Attack
Under contract for 2023/24: Aaron Collins, Ryan Loft, John Marquis, Scott Sinclair
Out of contract: Harvey Greenslade
End of loan: Josh Coburn
What lies ahead: Coburn's scoring returns and confidence have dipped, but it would be foolish to play down the impact he has had on the team this season. With nine goals, he has dovetailed brilliantly with Collins during Rovers' best moments this season and his return to Middlesbrough will represent a significant void that will need filling when the time comes.
Youngster Greenslade is the only other forward out of contract this summer; he is fresh off scoring twice for Truro City in a big win as they challenge Weston-super-Mare for the Southern League title.
Marquis and Loft have shown at different moments this season what the can contribute to the squad, while Sinclair has proven to be an excellent addition as a free agent in October and he has since committed his future for the 2023/24 season, bringing valuable goals, creativity and nous to the squad.
The biggest question mark surrounds Collins. A dip in form should not detract from the fact that he is having a truly outstanding season and clubs in the Championship and perhaps the Premier League will have been alerted by his haul of 26 goal contributions (15 goals, 11 assists). Barton has spoken bluntly about Collins' form in the past week, but he is one of the best players in League One without a shadow of a doubt.
Rovers are in a position of strength when it comes to Collins' contract, with his services secured until 2025, and the Gas would welcome a bidding war for an asset they value highly when the transfer window opens. Should he depart, the Gas would need cover his exit with two, perhaps three signings in attack to cover his dynamic skillset.
Rovers can be expected to be active in their pursuit of a winger or two, as well. Barton did not conceal his disappointment at missing out on that position in the January window and it is a void that needs to be filled by the end of August.
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