Depressing The five-year span of the seven worst recruits for Bristol Rovers

The majority of Bristol Rovers’ recent transfer transactions has gone smoothly.

The team has a history of acquiring players on free transfers and then selling them for a profit; one such player is Aaron Collins. They have also demonstrated exceptional use of the loan market, as evidenced by the return of Josh Coburn from Middlesbrough and Elliot Anderson from Newcastle to the first teams.

We have examined some of the worst acquisitions made over the previous five years, but like any club, we have made errors in the loan and transfer markets.

7Max Ehmer

Max Ehmer, who captained the team until Joey Barton was named manager in February, is the first player from the Rovers team that finished last in League One in 2020–2021 season.

After his contract at Gillingham, a third division team, expired, the German-born defender joined Ben Garner’s team. He played 33 games in all competitions as the Gas were demoted with two games remaining in the season. After rejoining Gillingham at the end of the season, Ehmer’s contract was terminated. He has subsequently established himself as a staple in their lineup, making over 100 games in three seasons.

SixBen Liddle

At the start of the 2021–2022 season, Mark Hughes (right) had a brief time as a player with Bristol Rovers after turning down a contract extension with his current team, Accrington Stanly, in favor of joining Joey Barton’s squad. On the first day of the season, Hughes made his debut in his team’s 2-1 loss to Mansfield Town. He gave up a penalty in the last minutes to condemn his new team to defeat.

He made five more appearances before deciding to end his playing career and take a position in Plymouth Argyle’s backroom staff under Steven Schumacher. He followed Schumacher from Plymouth to his current position at Stoke City, where he is currently the player’s assistant.

4 Jon Nolan

When it comes to brief assignments, none are shorter than Jon Nolan’s at Bristol Rovers. The former Ipswich player made one appearance before his contract was not extended at the end of the season after joining the team in January 2022 on a short-term basis through the end of the campaign.

After being released by the Gas, he signed a one-year contract with Tranmere Rovers, a fourth tier team, which was not renewed. He currently plays for Macclesfield Town in the Northern Premier League.

3Calum Macdonald

Speaking about the January window, Calum Macdonald (right) is one recent example of a short-term deal. Following the termination of his contract with Stockport County, the full-back signed a contract in January 2023 that lasted until the end of the 2022–2023 season.

After making four appearances during his time in Bristol, the Scotsman signed a two-year contract with Mansfield Town, where he contributed to the team’s push for promotion at the top of League Two alongside Ollie Clarke, Alfie Kilgour, and Tom Nicholls, all former Rovers players.

2 Sylvester Jasper

Josh Barrett, another member of the Rovers team demoted in 2021, joined the Gas prior to the season for an undisclosed sum from Reading. After his team’s relegation, the Irishman’s two-and-a-half-year contract was terminated to enable him to join Tommy Widdrington, the head of recruitment for Rovers, to Kings Lynn, a National League team. Despite Barrett making just nine appearances under three different managers during his time at Rovers, manager Ben Garner frequently criticized his lack of fitness.

The midfield player was once again introduced to the club by Widdrington and is currently at Aldershot.

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