Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton won’t be conducting any further contract discussions with the members of his squad whose deals are expiring until the Gas have mathematically secured their League One status for next season.
Rovers lie 15th in the standings on 45 points, 10 clear of the bottom four with nine games remaining across what proves to be a frantic and intense conclusion to the 2022/23 campaign. Barton has previously targeted 52 points as the total which will enable the Gas to be safe from relegation but, in truth, the final number could prove to be a lot less.
It leaves seven first-team players in a state of limbo as they become free agents at the end of June but need to see how the season plays out before being in a position to receive further clarity on their future, whether that be in BS7 or elsewhere.
