Joey Barton believes Bristol Rovers need to reinstate an under-23s programme as a "finishing school" for talent produced by the academy, and he hopes it will be part of his "legacy" when he leaves the club.
Rovers disbanded their development squad in 2021 due to financial constraints, withdrawing from the Central League and making development squad manager Lee Mansell – now in charge at Gloucester City – redundant.
But Barton, who frequently mentions the lack of an under-23s squad to bridge the gap between the under-18s and the first team, says the club needs to "have a sensible conversation" about reintroducing a development squad.
