Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton revealed he held discussions with Nigel Pearson over a potential pre-season friendly which was reportedly curtailed on police advice.
The two rivals last faced each other in 2013 with the Robins coming out on top with a 2-1 victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, courtesy of goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Joe Bryan. It was the two side's first meeting in six and a half years.
That contest was marred by crowd violence that led to 19 arrests with three police officers receiving injuries. Trouble brewed both on the pitch after the full-time whistle and outside of the Ashton Gate.
It's been 21 years since the two side's last league meeting and that wait will continue for at least another year although there was the potential for a derby to take place this summer ahead of the new season which kicks off at the beginning of August.
Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, Barton confirmed both he and Pearson were open to the idea of going up against each other although Avon and Somerset Police opted against the plans. He said: "I spoke to Big Nige because there was mooting of us having a friendly in pre-season over at Ashton Gate.
"I think Big Nige was game for it, we certainly were but I think the police have got involved and it looks like we're going to play Cardiff instead."
Barton believes the potential of the two sides going up against each other can only benefit the city on the whole while praising Pearson for the young, talented squad he has assembled - making note of Alex Scott's quality.
He added: "We'd love that. I can't understand because I go to the match with my mates who support Liverpool if it's a derby and there's no issue. I think it's great for the city, for tourism and businesses do fantastically well when your football team is doing well.
"We have to uphold the blue half and obviously Nige has got a good exciting young team. The young kid who won the Young Player of the Year, Alex Scott, looks a fantastic player. I've seen the mayor tweeting about and I thought isn't that great for the city.
"I've lived in the city of Glasgow where the two teams (Celtic and Rangers) can't be doing well. One is really good and the other's really bad, it just flip-flops.
"We're in a position in Bristol where both teams can do really well. I hope we can get up to give a derby because I think it will be a cracker but if they go up it will throw down the gauntlet to the blue half to say if you want to have a derby you've got to go up again.
"I think both clubs can do it. The footfall of the city, the logistics of the city, the affluent places you can live in, the schools... I think as both clubs scale up it gets easy to attract elite-level players."
Bristol Live have approached Avon and Somerset police for comment.
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