The Pirates Are Swashbuckling With The Reveal Of New Manager

Weeks of speculation as to who would be given the leading role at Bristol Rovers ended on Monday morning as the club confirmed Paul Buckle as their new manager.

The appointment comes as no surprise, various media circles had been talking about the former Torquay United boss for some time, any potential deal being delayed by the Gulls shock run to the League 2 play off final, a game they eventually lost 1-0 to Stevenage. During press conferences in the build up to Torquay's three play-off games there was a steady stream of questions from the press as to whether Buckle would be leaving his post to join the Gas, whether his side were to win promotion or not, a move that was continually met with denial by the man himself.

But his four successful years at Torquay have now ended, not least on the high of guiding his charges to Old Trafford. "I leave Torquay with a heavy heart after four fantastic years, which included three Cup Finals and re-instating their place back in the Football League." Said Buckle, "The Club now has a sound infrastructure, both on and off the field, which will serve them well in the coming seasons. I always wanted to leave Torquay on a high, and I am blessed that I can do that."

The opportunity to take over at Rovers proved to much of a temptation for the Hertfordshire born manager to resist. During his time with Torquay Buckle was forced to work on a shoestring budget, not least when they found their way back into the Football League, but he has still managed to work wonders with the Devon club, not only managing to sustain their place in the league but to push them onto bigger and better things, giving them a fantastic platform on which to build.

Rovers on the other hand will be able to give Buckle the chance to work with more cash floating around, 'a substantial six-figure sum' was how Will Hoskins transfer fee was described and no doubt some of it will be reinvested back into the side that the new boss will want to build. Hoskins was also on a hefty wage packet at Rovers and his, along with Jeff Hughes and potentially Chris Lines departures, will allow a certain amount of freedom in the transfer market. He will need to use his money wisely, though, it has not been stated publicly but all involved at the Memorial Stadium, fans and club officials alike, will be expecting the Gas to fight for an immediate promotion back to League 1, though it seems that Buckle understands this and is similarly ambitious.

"The chance to become Bristol Rovers manager was far too good an opportunity to turn down. I intend to do everything in my power to take Rovers back to where they belong.

"After meeting with Nick and the Rovers Board I'm in no doubt of the ambitions of the Club and believe with everything in place this Club has the potential to reach the Championship in the coming years."

For too many years now the Rovers faithful have had to put up with bland and overall below par defensive football, Paul Trollope becoming ever more cautious during his reign before Dave Penney came in and seemed to do all within his power to create a morose long ball team full of mercenaries. By that point it looked all over, Campbell came in, seemingly taking his tactics straight from the Paul Trollope school of management, and though there was a glimmer of hope it eventually faded out into relegation with a game to play, barring a mathematical miracle.

But over the hill and into the coming season Buckle will bring with him a new set of ideas, attacking ideas, his starting line up for the first leg of Torquay's play-off semi contained no less than four strikers and throughout the season the Gulls managed a positive goal difference of 21, a full 55 goals better off than Rovers abhorrent -34 in the division above.


"I will be installing a fresh mentality throughout the Club that reflects me, by bringing in the high standards that I demanded at Torquay, which resulted in great success."

That was Buckle's claim on Rovers official website this morning and it is no doubt what is required. Part of which will be about getting some of the disenfranchised fanbase back onside, although even at this early stage the mood has lifted among Gashead internet users, many fans cooing over the appointment. Now, however, the next steps must be taken, building a squad capable of promotion. It has been stated that Buckle will now take a break to give himself time to collect his thoughts and take some personal time out, but over the next few weeks Rovers chairman Nick Higgs has come out and said that the club will be looking to work on bringing in a list of targets that have already been identified by the new manager, while also talking about 'the rebuilding process' that will occur in pre-season.

There were rumours abound of attitude problems in the squad over the past season that disrupted the dressing room but with the new shake up in terms of the playing staff this will hopefully be evaporated, part of the 'high standards' Buckle demands, a professional attitude and dedication both on and off the pitch.

Indeed, the first step has been taken, Shaun North following Buckle from Devon to Bristol, taking up the role of assistant manager. An experienced coach North has worked with Buckle for the past few seasons and has a great deal of experience in the game having taken up various roles at Portsmouth and Oxford, a period during which he worked with Rovers current youth team manager Darren Patterson who he will no doubt be rendezvousing with on a regular basis to develop the next generation of talent.

The length of the duo's contracts are shrouded in mystery, no word coming from the club as of yet on the deals. There will be a small compensation fee paid from Rovers to Torquay however, as Buckle's contract with the Gulls set to run until November this year.

Rovers odds have already been shortened from 16/1 to 5/2 with the news of the new gaffer and fans will remain interested spectators as to how these continue to fluctuate in the time leading up to August 6th, when the new Football League season will begin, Buckle at the helm, in the quest to regain League 1 status.

Barcelona Prove Too Hot To Handle For United

Barcelona will have the tag of 'Champions of Europe' for the next year at least after taking all the glory with a 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley where they showed why the world calls them the greatest team ever seen.

Pedro broke the deadlock with a deft finish before Wayne Rooney sent the teams in level at half time but the game was won thanks to Lionel Messi, who else, and David Villa, giving Eric Abidal the chance to raise the giant trophy aloft, just ten weeks after having surgery to remove a tumour from his liver, a true footballing fairytale

The Manchester United team news was the first to come through the wire and it saw Sir Alex Ferguson employ the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation. Rooney started up front, partnering the Mexican Javier Hernandez while Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick were both preferred to Darren Fletcher in the centre of midfield, the Scotsman's comeback from illness coming perhaps too quickly for European football's biggest match. Park started on the left, his tireless work down the right being employed to tame the marauding Daniel Alves. Antonio Valencia started on the other wing and the back line was made up of Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra, Edwin Van Der Sar taking his place in goal for one final fling with the professional game.

Javier Mascherano, once sent off against United for Liverpool, began the game in the centre of defence, partnering ex-Reds defender Gerard Pique. The midfield was as expected, Sergio Busquets doing the dirty work in the central three, allowing Xavi and Iniesta the freedom to express themselves and impact the game. The front line of Barca also came as no surprise, the irrepressible world footballer of the year Lionel Messi sat in between Pedro and David Villa.

From the get go Manchester United came out and set their stall, hustling and harrying Dani Alves, dispossessing the full back in the opening minute, although as the game closed they were noticably tired, their containing plan taking it's toll after a long season. To start with Barcelona looked edgy, the loose balls weren't falling their way and the odd pass was going awry.

But as in Rome two years ago the opening dominance of United was soaked up the the Catalan's as David Villa forced a corner, taken short and leading to a shout of handball against Evra in the penalty area, though the decision would have been undoubtedly harsh. It was Barca who had the first true effort on goal, Pedro getting in behind Vidic and volleying wide of the upright from a wide ball.

Barca were starting to step up to their flowing best and the challenges from the United midfield, though biting in their nature, were finding nothing but the fresh Wembley air as the sharpness of their oppositions maestros allowed them to dodged the flying feet. The possession was mounting in favour of the Spaniards and they were beginning to create chances too, David Villa twice having time to shoot wide from the edge of the box while the passing rhythm was starting to slice through the English sides defence, last ditch challenges being the order of the day as Messi began finding himself within 15 yards of their goal, and eventually the pressure told, Barcelona made the breakthrough.

Xavi Hernandez, the string puller in the metronomic attacking unit of the Spanish champions, was afforded too much time and space to push forward and a pin-point diagonal pass with the outside of his left boot found Pedro with a clear sight of goal and he made no mistake, Van Der Sar the first man to lose his nerve as he went the wrong way, Pedro rolling the ball coolly in at the near post. Barcelona, much like their fanbase behind Valdes' goal, were bouncing.

Just minutes later, though, it was all square, United providing a quintessentially Barcelona goal. Wayne Rooney clipped a ball though to Ryan Giggs who, though suspiciously loitering on the offside line, laid the ball back to Rooney who finished in typically emphatic fashion, guiding the ball into the top corner with his instep, perfectly controlled in his technique.

As soon as you like the status quo was back, Barcelona were pushing forward and David Villa stung the hands of Van Der Sar before twice the Catalan's were the length of a stud away from retaking the lead, Pedro the first to fail to connect, that after a cleverly worked free kick, while the final chance of the half fell the way of Lionel Messi who attempted a give and go, but his go was just not quick enough.

The second half began where the first left off, more possession and short, incisive passing from Barcelona, Dani Alves having the first chance of the half, finding a way into the box only to shoot at Van Der Sar's legs, and there was no stop to it, United were not given any respite and they soon fell behind again.

Lionel Messi dropped deep and received a pass from Xavi, shooting as quick as a flash and catching the Red Devil's custodian off guard, finding the back of the net with a sweetly struck, left footed effort, right in front of the jubilant Barca faithful. It was his first goal on English soil and he couldn't have found a bigger ocassion in which to score it.

The Argentinian magician wasn't finished there, though as he weaved his way into yet another shooting position from where he made Van Der Sar drop swiftly onto his side to keep out a stinging low effort. And just a couple of minutes later he was bringing the ball forward yet again, eventually getting on the end of a Dani Alves pull back with a backheel flick that was only stopped on the line by United boot.

There were no bones about it, Messi was running the game, and after two beautiful pieces of skill he burst into the box, the ball breaking to David Villa on the edge of the area and the former Valencia striker made it 3-1 with an exquisite curling effort that swung around the arms of Van Der Sar and with that it was all over. Not that anyone had told Wayne Rooney that, the bulldog forward landing an effort onto the roof of the net.

The three minutes of added time were all but meaningless in the grand scheme of things, Ibrahim Afellay's late strike would have only rubbed United's face in the dirt had it been hit a sight more verve. But on a night when the speed and presence of mind shown by the Barcelona players was by far superior nobody could have complained about the final score, they had claimed club footballs ultimate prize with club footballs ultimate team. That's not to discredit the effort shown by England's champions, they played a massive part in the showpiece event that fans had dreamed of, Barcelona's majesty was just too much for them to handle.

Indeed, the world stands to them, lauds them, and rightly so, they have claimed the glory tonight and they won't be stopping there.

Ferguson Puts Foward United's Claim To Glory

Two years is a relatively long time in the career of a professional footballer and that is how long Manchester United have waited to enact revenge on Barcelona and put to bed the memories that have haunted them since they tasted defeat in the Champions League final in May 2009.

It was a game that saw Barcelona outplay the Red Devils, their slick passing and movement making United look like comparative schoolboys in Rome's Stadio Olimpico. The English side never turned up, not aside from the opening exchanges when their former defender Gerard Pique made a crucial block from Ji-Sung Park early on. From then on it was one way football, the triangles that Barca produced baffled United who, without the tireless work of the suspended Darren Fletcher in midfield, failed to cope with the skillful beauty of their opponents game.

But that was the past and it is time for United to live in the now, when Saturday evening comes there should be no thoughts of what has been, just picture the glory and do your utmost to claim it. There is no time to listen to the never ending string of public lauding that follows Barcelona round like the sweetest of fragrances. A single set of ninety minutes is all it takes to win a one-off game that could define the careers of this squad, not only to win the Champions League but to to do it against a team of such undoubted quality would be a memory to savour.

Let's not count out United, though, as they face the might of the Catalonian's. It may not have been classic United this season, they haven't been at their flowing best, but yet there is a spirit in the camp that has seen them fight until the end and the number of goals they have put past their opposition in the dying seconds has underlined this fact. Four players have netted goals in double figures with just Dimitar Berbatov scoring over twenty, and even then he only did so by one. In Europe the Reds have been uncharitable to opposition, leaking just four goals over the course of their twelve ties thus far, all of which have come at Old Trafford, while scoring eighteen. That includes eleven in the knockout rounds, most notably in the semi-final with Schalke where they scored six over the course of two legs.

Sir Alex Ferguson described Saturday's match as possibly 'the best final of the decade'. The long serving Manchester United manager was speaking at his final press conference before the big game when he spoke about the magnitude the match could leave in it's wake.

"The attraction of two great teams with great history is obvious. It’s an appealing final in terms of what could happen in this game.

"Anything could happen. There could be a lot of goals, a lot of excitement. Hopefully it turns out that way.

"I don’t think anyone can question the attacking players that will be on view tomorrow."

 

Indeed, if United are to stop Barca they will have to cope with the competitions top scorer in Lionel Messi. The breathtaking Argentinian has scored eleven in twelve European appearances alone, his 42 in all other competitions over the course of a showcase season have gone to prove that he deserves the title of 'World Footballer of the Year'. But Ferguson is also confident that the qualities in his side can help them claim the clubs fourth European cup.

 

"We have players who will all like this stage. In terms of Rooney's progress in Europe, he is much more mature than he was in 2009, and others too. The experience of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is [also] vital.

"Our experience, and our progress in Europe this season, gives us a good chance."

Stood just metres along the touchline from Ferguson will be one of the games hottest young managers in Pep Guardiola, and he was complimentary on the way the Spaniard has developed an already machine-like footballing outfit into the team they are today. Tinkering with Frank Rijkaard's style by progressing the defensive system, playing with a high defensive line and pressing in numbers across the pitch, Guardiola also focussed on keeping hold of the ball across the pitch, developing what is now known as 'tiki taka' football, strings of short passes mixed with sharp, incisive movement that has made them a feared force worldwide.

"I think that the most revealing thing about Pep Guardiola is that for a young coach who came to the club and in many ways [he has] changed the way they played.

"I think we all recognise that he’s brought maturity to the team from beating us in Rome to the present day. You see that maturity and also he’s changed the way that they press the ball, which has been very impressive in the last year in particular, so for a young coach who's done fantastically well, he has a good presence about him.

"He’s played for Barcelona which helps and if you look at the past history of Barcelona’s Dutch coaches, he’s made a big step forward for Spanish coaches."

 

The Scot also insisted that he wasn't out for revenge for what happened in Rome, choosing instead to talk about how his sides preparations will make the difference this time around.
 

"We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time. We were disappointed we lost the game but it isn't a matter of revenge, it is about our own personal pride.
 
"We did most of the work before the Blackpool game [last Sunday] and winning the league the previous week helped us that way.
 
"The players have to trust themselves and trust each other because I trust them. I know they'll do the job right.

"This team has unity and our record in Europe this year is good. We're used to playing in Europe, we have that experience and we're pleased with what we've achieved this year in Europe."

 
And so it is with an air of trepidation that many fans of Manchester United will walk up Wembley Way, late on Saturday afternoon, but that seems not to have affected Sir Alex Ferguson's confidence in his own sides chance to take the European crown.

Thank You, Will

In recent times Bristol Rovers fans have been blessed with a raft of talented strikers taking to the Memoral Stadium field.

Barry Hayles, Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington to name three from many moons ago but my time watching the Gas is far more recent. Junior Agogo was the first 'big name' that I remember, though I saw very few games that he played and highlights on ITV were where I knew him and his goals from.

Richard Walker, spot kick extraordinaire, was the next forward who found fame with Rovers. His 22 goal season in 2006/07 took the club to both the Millennium Stadium and Wembley and two exquisite strikes against Shrewsbury at the latter became the pinnacle of his playing and my supporting career with Bristol Rovers. Walkers ability to hit the back of the net was almost divine in League 2 but unfortunately his sloth-like lack of pace was found wanting at the step above as a higher calibre of defenders managed to slip the Brummie forward into their back pockets. With Walker's failure to grasp League 1 by the horns came the need for somebody new to take his heroes mantle, and up stepped Rickie Lambert.

As with Agogo I never got see Walker at his best, but thanks to a house move I was able to start becoming a regular at the Mem in our first season back in League 1 so Lambert was the first super striker I was able to take a look at week in, week out, and it certainly wasn't a bad place to start. It may have taken Lambert until November to score a goal at home but prior to that goal against Millwall we saw a sumptuous 45 yard volley at Luton, that goal eventually only being beaten by a Jermaine Beckford's weaving run and curling strike in the goal of the season stakes. Lambert also scored the goal that put Rovers through to the FA Cup quarter finals with a deflected free kick as the Gas survived their first season back in the third tier. The Liverpudlian eventually finished the 2007/08 season with 19 goals, far and away the clubs leading scorer, but next season was when Lambert would really become one of the divisions hottest properties.

Rovers made their mark in their second home game against Hereford, Lambert scoring twice in a 6-1 victory in front of over 6,500 fans on a sunny North Bristol afternoon. The striker went on to score 15 goals in Rovers first fourteen league games, including a four in a single game against Southend, and looked set to beat Geoff Bradford's seasonal scoring record of 33. Even though he went on to put two past Cheltenham, one coming after an elegant turn in the box, and put a hat-trick past Hereford Lambert never made that total and neither was he alone in becoming the leagues top scorer, finishing level on 29 with Simon Cox of local rivals Swindon.

That was to be his last full season for Rovers as one game and one goal into the next he made his seven-figure move to Southampton where he once again dominated the scoring charts, finishing with a staggering 37 goals including the opener in his second Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, winning the cup against Carlisle.

Lambert's deft touch and footballing brain defied the image of a powerful striker with a right foot like a traction engine. His technical ability made him much more than the simple target man that his appearance showed and his movement and goal-poaching skills made him one of the lower league's most feared frontmen. With an extra yard of pace there is no doubt in my mind that Lambert would have spent the majority of his playing career plying his trade in the Premier League.

Rovers went a season without a first class striker to score their goals, though Jo Kuffour, Chris Lines and Jeff Hughes all made it into double figures for the year. But in June 2010 Rovers gave a chance to another striker who would take it with everything he had, Will Hoskins.

Three unsuccessful years at Watford had found the striker's fame falling from an excellent career start at Rotherham but he soon found his scoring boots again, netting his first goal against Exeter and going on to score numerous winners, many of them superlative strikes, his twisting journey on the way way to the edge of Huddersfield's box before bending an effort around Alex Smithies outstretched arms was a particular highlight. Not only could he perform miracles but he could also show us the beautifully simple finishes such as the close range dink over Swindon's goalkeeper in the 3-1 win at the Mem.

Two ankle injuries in November and April meant that Hoskins had to miss parts of the season and a fairly barren second half to the term from Rovers only true attacking threat compounded the Pirates relegation back to League 2, but there was no doubt that Hoskins was yet another excellent striking talent that graced Rovers with his presence.

Hoskins has now moved on to pastures new, joining Brighton for their assault on the Championship, but Rovers fans still have the memories of a forward who put his heart on his sleeve for the cause who, with a more stable club around him, could have had many more goals to his name. Hoskins was a different type of striker to Lambert, for all the power his predecessor had in his locker Will had raw skill and a flair about him, he could turn a defender inside out, strike from distance, finish from close in or send over a delicious cross for his comrades.

The two goals he scored against the team he would go on to join typified the varying degrees of his footballing abilities, his first was a dipping drive that found the underside of the crossbar before recoiling over the line while his second saw him bamboozle two defenders with a flurry of stepovers before slotting the ball past the Brighton 'keeper, surely one of the finest consolations the league would see this season.

Even though Hoskins was far and away the most talented player in the side he was also a team player and grew close to the fans, interacting with them not only on a matchday but also during his own time via Twitter. He will be missed but there will not be a single Gashead who wouldn't thank him for his brightening displays in an otherwise torrid season.

So it's with a sigh of depression that I have to say my own thank you, Will, for your goals, your tricks, flicks and spins and the way you held up the pride in our side where others failed. The Memorial Stadium will be different without your aura engulfing it's four corners.

But with the exit of one footballing demigod comes the chance for someone else to step into the breach and thrust themselves forth into Bristol Rovers folklore and, whoever it may be, I look forward to telling rambling anecdotes of their glories to all and sundry.

FA Cup Final Gives The Women's Game A Showcase

The Ricoh Arena was the venue for this years showpiece event in the women's footballing calender as the stadium played magnificent hosts to a 2-0 triump for Arsenal Ladies over their Bristol Academy counterparts.

Over 13,000 fans filled the sky blue seats of Coventry City's stadium on a day that saw the sun peer over the clouds just in time for the last few minutes to tick by as Arsenal regained the trophy that they had given up 12 months ago.

Much of the noise in the ground came from the South Stand where a group of young, enthusiastic and vocal fans voiced their support for Bristol Academy, faces painted blue all the while, and not even the two first half Gunners strikes could dampen their fanaticism.

A tuneful pre-match build up started with X-Factor finalist Paije Richardson giving the crowd a rendition of 'I'm A Believer' and continued on in a similar vein, eventually ending with the crowd standing for the national anthem, the fan next to me taking great pride in belting out the lyrics.

The game kicked off with Academy winning an early corner, but that was about as good as it got for the West Country side as the Gunners kicked themselves into life. They were given a helping hand by some wasteful passing and control from Bristol but their own movement and slick distribution of the ball wreaked havoc upon their opponents back line, Vixen's full backs Grace McCatty and Alex Culvin being given a torrid time by the pace of Arsenal wingers Rachel Yankey and Ellen White.

Arsenal were contesting everything in the centre of the park, often getting to all the loose balls first and it was one aerial battle inside the Bristol half that lead to the ball breaking to Kim Little on the edge of the area. She moved forward, jinked inside one defender and slammed the ball past England international goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, and Bristol's hope of putting in a quick reply were hampered when the lead was doubled thirteen minutes later.

Rachel Yankey took a quick throw-in to the feet of full back Niamh Fahey who whipped in a superb cross that found the head of the on-rushing Julie Fleeting to bullet the ball into the back of the net and at that moment, on the first half displays alone, the game looked as good as over. The nerves seemed to have gotten to the Bristol side as they struggled to retain the ball in the centre of the park for any substantial amount of time but the application of the Gunners was top notch, pressing all over the pitch and working hard to win the ball back. A head injury to Academy's instinctive midfielder Jess Fishlock did little to change the flagging morale of her team mates, the Welsh capped player being substituted at half time with what was later confirmed as a concussion.

Her replacement was striker Lillie Billson and the former Arsenal player gave a fine account of herself in the second half, chasing every ball and working both channels but there was still little in the way of end product from the girls in blue. Winger Helen Bleazard almost produced what would have been a superb goal, crashing a free kick back off of Emma Byrne's crossbar and with that rebounded effort went any real hope of an Academy comeback.

Despite the Vixen's spirited second half performance Arsenal continued to press into the later stages and could have had another goal if it weren't for some excellent shot stopping by Chamberlain but all in all they deserved their win, their eleventh in the final of the Women's Cup. The victory will send the Gunners into the WSL mid-season break on a high and they will look to carry that into the second half of the inaugural championship to take the fight to table topping Birmingham.

Bristol Academy meanwhile can look back on a proud day in their clubs history, a first ever FA Cup final, hopefully one of many, and the chance to showcase themselves on national television. Many of the players found themselves in the media spotlight during the games build up and they will certainly not want to drop out of the public eye, though with a Champions League spot being won for reaching the final they will certainly be names to follow during the coming months. They will look to continue their good WSL form and consolidate that into a commendable top half finish.

Though the final attendance of 13,000 wasn't as good as was expected by The FA, it was hoped that the game would see the largest ever attendance for a modern women's game in England, the fans inside the ground were certainly entertained and Sky Sports live coverage will do women's football the world of good. Both 'Arsenal Ladies' and 'Bristol Academy' were trending on Twitter, a testimony to the potential the game has to take off nationwide.

Atmospherically the game is very different to the typical men's affair. There are no verbal barrages aimed in the direction of the referee, the players are not berated every time they take a step out of line and there is no need for segregation. Invariably a few chants were struck up by the fans, mainly the girls supporting Bristol Academy, and there was an overall family friendly feel to the game, the crowd being made up of young children and their parents, the odd die hard supporter of each side and a splattering of inquisitive local fans and with the most expensive ticket on offer being £5 there was excellent value to be had for a game of excellent technical quality.

This summer provides an excellent platform for the women's game in England to take off. The Super League is up and running, England are in this years World Cup, all their games being broadcasted live by the BBC, and a showpiece FA Cup Final that highlighted the quality of the women's game. This is just the beginning.

Hoskins Sold And Hughes Released

Bristol Rovers have today sold top scorer Will Hoskins as well as announcing their retained list of players out of contract who will not be offered new deals.

Hoskins has been sold to Brighton for an undisclosed amount, Rovers official site describing the fee paid as 'a substantial six-figure sum'. Hoskins proved to be the only real bright spot in his one season with the Gas, scoring twenty goals in a term that ended in relegation and saw the club knocked out of two cup competitions by lower league opposition.

Hoskins proved to be a hit with the fans off the pitch as well as on it and took the time to pay his respects to the Gasheads that supported him during the season via Twitter, saying:

@hosky8: I'd like to say a big thank you to all the rovers fans that backed me last year and sorry it was such a disappointing season.

Rovers also released their retained list for the new season, letting a total of seventeen out of contract players go, the most notable of the which was left midfielder Jeff Hughes.

Over the course of three seasons the Northern Irishman scored 30 goals and racked up 140 appearances for Rovers, many of those goals coming from the penalty spot where he became his sides regular spot kick taker. His final game for the club ended with Hughes being substituted from the field of play having suffered a triple wrist fracture against Charlton Athletic.

Another popular player who will not be with the Memorial Stadium outfit next season is defender Danny Senda who, despite putting in a number of stirling performances in the right back berth and swiftly becoming a fans favourite, will not be offered a deal to remain at the club. Senda was recruited by Dave Penney as were midfielders Gavin Williams and JP Kalala who will also leave for pastures new.

Goalkeeper Mike Green and centre back Jerel Ifil will also be released, as will Darryl Duffy and Carl Regan, both of whom spent time away from Bristol on loan during the course of the season. None of the second year scholars were offered fresh deals with the club.

Youngster Harry Pell who joined Rovers last summer is currently in negotiations over a new deal while Conrad Logan was known to be in talks over joining the Pirates, though little has been heard on that front in recent days.

The full list of released players is as follows: Jeff Hughes, Danny Senda, Gavin Williams, JP Kalala, Mike Green, Darryl Duffy, Carl Regan, Jerel Ifil, Ashley Bowle, Sam Butler, Jack Camm, Alex Hoyle, Robbi Maggs, Lewis Parker, Tyrone Rhoden, Tom Seery, Jordan Tillson.

Academy And Arsenal Set For Coventry Showdown

When Saturday rolls around the players of Bristol Academy will stride out onto the pitch at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena for what will be the biggest game in their clubs history, the FA Women's Cup Final against Arsenal.

The showpiece event in the English women's footballing calender will feature the Vixens for the first time in either their current guise or the clubs former name, Bristol Rovers Ladies FC, though they have come close on numerous occasions beforehand.

In their short history the club have reached the semi final stage four times, losing out in three ties with Arsenal and once to Charlton, though they couldn't have picked a better year to make the final as, with the birth of the new FA Women's Super League, the FA have decided to award their Champions League places for 2011/12 to this years two finalists. Academy will hope that their luck against the Gunners will change this weekend, though they know that their more illustrious opponents will not be overcome by the size of the match as they are not facing anything new.

Arsenal Ladies are the most successful team not only in the FA Cup but also the women's game in England as a whole and have a superb cup pedigree behind them, having collected the trophy on no less than ten occasions, five of those victories coming in the last seven years. They do, however, have one final defeat to their name, that coming in last seasons 3-2 loss to Everton. This will be the sixth season in succession that Arsenal have made the final and they will be looking to fashion another victory to win back what must seem like 'their trophy'.

After an initially poor start to life in the Super League Bristol have pulled themselves together and are undefeated in their last five league games. A 4-0 thumping away to Birmingham, the side that currently top the table, left the side shaken but a slight improvement in their next game saw them fall by just a single, spectacular strike to Arsenal, Jennifer Beattie driving in a forty yarder that ended up winning April's goal of the month. A late equaliser at home to Liverpool was followed up by another last gasp goal, this time a Loren Dykes winner against Doncaster and the next game against Chelsea should have yielded another three points but for some profligate finishing, the biggest culprit being Helen Bleazard who blazed a penalty high over the bar.

Two further draws followed, a stalemate up at Everton before a thrilling 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the Stoke Gifford Stadium with the home side twice coming from behind to snatch a point, ex-Gunner and captain Corrine Yorston getting the second with no time to spare in front of over 1,000 fans, whetting their appetites for the FA Cup Final.

League favourites Arsenal have had a great start to the new Super League but despite that they will likely be dissappointed not to find themselves at the head of the table. Only five points have been dropped, two in the draw with Bristol and all three against Birmingham, their only domestic defeat of the season. They also made their way through to the Champions League semi finals, eventually falling short over two legs against Lyon. Prior to the last Academy game the Gunners had two good away wins against Lincoln, 2-0, and Doncaster, 3-0. Striker Ellen White has been the key figure in Arsenal's season, scoring eleven goals already this term and will need to kept quiet if Bristol goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain is to keep her sheets clean.

The Vixens run to the final started in spectacular style, crashing eight goals past Sheffield Wednesday at the Don Valley Stadium, Helen Bleazard, Jess Fishlock and Ann-Marie Heatherson getting on the scoresheet twice, Loren Dykes and Molly Clark supplying the other two. A fortnight later Bleazard and Fishlock put their scoring boots on again to see off Women's Premier League side Millwall in the quarter-finals and their place in the final was confirmed with a 3-0 win away to Liverpool at Skelmersdale.

Arsenal avenged their defeat in last seasons cup final with a 2-0 win over Everton before being taken to extra time by Premier League Sunderland, eventually coming out on top by three goals to two. They rounded off their trip to the final by thrashing another Premier League side, this time it was Barnet who fell to the Gunners, 5-0 the final score.

Academy boss Mark Sampson spoke to bristolacademywfc.fawsl.com pre-match and believes that the squad he possesses have the mental capabilities to cope with a game of such magnitude, saying:

"Our squad is well balanced with a great blend of experience and youth, we have players who have played in finals before and player’s who will be making their cup final debut. The pressure for us is positive, it brings us together, gives us strength, makes our objectives very clear. The reason players feel pressure is when they feel insecure within the group.

"Insecurity comes from not being clear with what is expected of you, every player in our group knows inside out our game plan and is ready to play their part so for us there is no negative pressure, we only have the pressure that gives you the strength to fight to win.

"...When people ask me about how we motivate the players I feel the answer is simple, you get the right people in the dressing room. How do you motivate players like Annie Heatherson, Jess Fishlock, Grace McCatty and Emma Jones? These are born winners, born competitors. It is impossible to give them any more motivation than they already have, my life is made easy with characters like I have in our dressing room."

Arsenal manager Laura Harvey, who will be making a 'home' appearance as a former Coventry City Ladies player, was interviewed by arsenal.com in her sides build up to the big day and talked about this seasons two games against Academy and what she believes will see her side take the glory.

"In both games, especially the two all draw, we could have had it 4-0 by half time and that is something we've worked on and looked at and to make sure that when we have a team under so much pressure, as we had at Bristol, that we've got to finish them off.

"We know that if we can perform at the levels we have in our ranks then we can beat anybody, we know that, we've just got to make sure we do that and we cut out the silly mistakes, we cut out the sloppy missed chances high up the pitch and anyone we play on our day, when we get everything right, needs to be wary of us."

There will be just one absentee for Bristol in the shape of central midfielder Katie Daley who picked up a knock after the Doncaster Rovers win.

Arsenal will have to make do without the services of their all-time record goalscorer Jayne Ludlow and experienced England international centre back Faye White.

With a crowd of nigh on 30,000 in attendance it is sure to be a day that will define the careers of many of the players out on the pitch and Bristol Academy will no doubt be keen to show their steel, throwing off their underdogs tag as they go.

Images sourced from bristolacademywfc.com,  and coventrytelegraph.net. Mark Sampson quotes taken from bristolacademywfc.com. Laura Harvey quotes taken from her video interview on arsenal.com.

Academy Face Arsenal In Cup Final Preview

Thursday night sees a dress rehearsal of the forthcoming Women's FA Cup final take place as Bristol Academy host Arsenal Ladies at the Stoke Gifford Stadium, though that's not to say that the two teams will be taking it at all easy.

The home side have turned around a difficult start to life in the FA WSL with a four game unbeaten run that has seen them collect all of their six points thus far. The only win of the league season came with a late Loren Dykes goal against Doncaster Rovers Belles, that coming after an even later goal arrived to grab a draw against Liverpool, defender Grace McCatty the source of that strike. Those are the only two goals scored by the Vixens this season as they have found Super League goals hard to come by and it will be no easier against a determined Arsenal defence that has leaked only two goals.

Pre-season league favourites Arsenal are currently sat second in the table, four points behind leaders Birmingham City with a game in hand. Birmingham remain the only team to take points off of Arsenal this term after ex-Gunner Karen Carney netted the winning goal in her sides away win at Borehamwood. If Bristol are to get anything out of the game then they will have to keep tabs on the Gunners top scorer Ellen White. England international striker White has already got on the scoresheet ten times this season in the Super League, FA Cup and Champions League, including six in her last four against Barnet, Birmingham, Lincoln and Doncaster.

The sides have already met once this season, Jennifer Beattie hitting the goal of the month for April in a 1-0 Arsenal win which can be seen in the match highlights package below.



Academy will put their unbeaten home start up against Arsenal's 100% away record in this tasty tie and Bristol boss Mark Sampson is confident that his side can maintain their run, he told bristolacademywfc.fawsl.com:

"We showed Arsenal what we are about in our game earlier in the season and it will be the same come Thursday. They will be looking to assert their style on the game and we will be looking to assert ours so it will be a big battle early on to see who can get the upper hand.

"All over the pitch there are some great match ups and it will be up to us to make sure we get on top of our direct opponent early in the game and show them what we are about. We are confident our style of play will cause them problems and psychologically we are very strong and ready to do what we need to do.

"It is a home game so it is up to us to set the tempo and that is something we certainly intend to do with our pressing and tackling."

The game was changed from a 6:30 kick off to a 7:15 start at the WISE campus in Filton. Adults can purchase their match tickets for £6 while concessions and students can get in for £4. Tickets in the Bristol Academy end of Coventry's Ricoh Arena for the Women's FA Cup final will be available at this game at £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.

Picture and Mark Sampson quote sourced from http://www.bristolacademywfc.fawsl.com/. Highlights video taken from http://www.fawsl.com/.

My First Relegation, A Season In Review

We had joy, we had fun and we had seasons in the sun, well, moments shall we say.

As I write this the finals few minutes of Bristol Rovers torrid season are winding down and the last nail is finally going into the coffin, we are down, and this is all new to me.

My first Rovers game came in the 2002/03 season, a dour 0-0 draw with Bournemouth in the swirling wind and rain shouldn't have made me come away begging my parents to take me back to the Mem but they do say every Gashead is a little bit barmy.

That point helped edge Rovers towards safety that season and ever since there have been no backward steps in terms of final league position until now, at least. I've enjoyed the highs of reaching two major finals in 2007, the Millennium Stadium being a magnificent venue to take in for a young football fan, but there is no feeling like visiting such a special place as Wembley and winning there made it all the sweeter. I can still picture Sammy Igoe sliding that ball over the line in stoppage time and bouncing up and down to the tune of The Fratellis 'Chelsea Dagger' but at this point in time that all feels so far away.

It was the next season that I started to come regularly to games, securing a gig selling programmes on Filton Avenue for the supporters club and it seems that as my time volunteering on match days comes to an end so does Rovers League 1 status.

I was confident of Rovers going somewhere good this season, the capture of Will Hoskins the pick of a bunch of transfers and the 3-0 defeat on the opening day to Peterborough, one of the teams I fancied for promotion from the off, did little to dampen my spirits, but it was the next game that made all Rovers fans take a step back and look at the bigger picture, a 6-1 defeat to newly promoted League 2 side Oxford in the Carling Cup was an appalling setback that turned out not to be a simple, though rather astounding, blip but an insight into the season to come.

A scrappy win against Yeovil could have been a turning point, the first win on the board out the way should have bred a little confidence in the camp but as the next two-and-a-half months went on it looked like being another season of inconsistency and mid-table obscurity but things only got worse. Another disastrous defeat to lower league opposition, this time against Conference side Darlington in the FA Cup, killed confidence and a 6-3 JPT win over a second string Wycombe side did little to lift it significantly. That was the only win in November and with the Gas having gone seven league games without a win Paul Trollope was placed on gardening leave by the Rovers board.

Darren Patterson took over for two games before the appointment of Dave Penney was revealed. Penney was labelled as 'the outstanding candidate' of ten final interviewees by chairman Nick Higgs who also promised 'two or three new faces' to bolster a squad with a solid basis, this wasn't what happened, though. The new gaffer didn't claim a win until his fourth game in charge, 3-1 over local rivals Swindon, a 6-1 reverse to Walsall in the next game completely rattled the new boss and along with David McCracken there were to be numerous signings brought in, Rene Howe, JP Kalala and Gavin Williams to name just three, but all they seemed to do was to unsettle the clubs established players. They failed to bring the required results and the next victory came after a run of five straight defeats with a 1-0 win over Oldham, Conrad Logan coming in for his first game in goal, alienating fellow loan keeper Luke Daniels who never made an appearance at the club again.

It was clear Penney was unpopular with the players and three more consecutive losses were the final straw for Nick Higgs and the board relieved him of his duties after a 2-0 reverse against relegation rivals Dagenham, Stuart Campbell was placed in charge until the seasons end as one last, desperate attempt at turning things around and getting some parts of the fanbase onside. It worked initially, a win was claimed against Tranmere and performances started to pick up, a run of four unbeaten dragged the sorry Gas out of the relegation zone but that was as far as it went, the last two games in that run being an inkling as to how poor the side were results aside.

There were to be no more wins in the final six games of the season and despite two improved displays against Bournemouth and Sheffield Wednesday the club was all but relegated with one game to go. The mood after the draw with Wednesday was not as depressing as it might have been, it was more about taking the inevitable, it had looked all over after the Dagenham loss and even though Campbell gave us hope there was no surprise or shock for fans to deal with and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

The final day defeat was academic and we were eventually relegated by three points. Gasheads could look back at numerous buts and what ifs, the two disallowed goals against Huddersfield, losing at home to Plymouth despite having been 2-0 up after eleven minutes, it's all too late and no fan should bare thinking about it. The key point of the season was certainly the board handing Dave Penney the managers job, his long ball tactics did not suit the squad he had, there was little change from the ultra defensive mannerisms that had become so ingrained in the side under Paul Trollope and his tough man management skills were far from what was required, although Trollope's mollycoddling approach may have gotten the players into a comfortable state, not a place where any professional footballer should be.

The squad themselves seemed to lack any fight until they were put under the charge of their team mate and friend Stuart Campbell who took to lending an ear to the players and it seemed that once the initial pep his promotion gave the side was gone they were all back to their relaxed state and the tactical naivety and general managerial inexperience from Campbell and his assistant Craig Hinton eventually told.

Nick Higgs earlier this week said that the Rovers faithful should expect an announcement in 'the next couple of weeks', and the sooner a new manager is appointed and given the chance to remodel the squad and his backroom staff and get pre-season plans sorted out the better. I'm afraid to tell all the Stuart Campbell fans that if he is given the job on a full time basis then you can expect the Gas to struggle again next season. A competent, experienced and hardline manager is what is needed to get the squad in order, a summer clear out should be on the cards, keep the key nucleus of the squad and get rid of the players who have been happy to take the clubs money with no care for the fans or their personal performances.

The winds of change are wisping their way around the Memorial Stadium and the club needs to embrace them.

Rovers Look To Finish On A High

17-0 and defeats for Walsall and Dagenham? Surely not.

That's the most basic scenario of the impossible equation that Bristol Rovers need if they are to avoid relegation but lets face it, it's not going to happen. So what is this game against Colchester about? Professional pride, giving the fans a modicum of pleasure and a chance for some of the players to say a final goodbye to the club.

If results go their way it could be that Rovers are only relegated by their horrific goal difference and that would at least be something. Chairman Nick Higgs told fans that there may be some news on a new manager 'in the next couple of weeks' and the sooner the better, with players needing to be tied down to new contracts, signings needing to be brought into the club and pre-season plans requiring arrangement.

Colchester will provide a good chance of Rovers of picking up a final win, the U's haven't won in their last four matches, drawing two of those. Three of the games in that run were on the road, though, and they haven't lost in four games at home, winning three in a row before a draw with table-topping Brighton. A Colchester goal is also likely to come at some point during the afternoon, they have scored in each of their last eight outings.

Rovers have gone five games without victory, the last coming in a 1-0 win at home to Bournemouth way back at the start of April and it is that poor run that has seen the club all but relegated. The performances in the last two haven't been those of a side set for the drop, Bournemouth getting revenge with an undeserved 2-1 win, coming back from a goal down with six minutes left on the clock and with both Walsall and Dagenham winning last weekend nothing less than a Rovers win would result in the club going down, they failed to do so, the game finishing 1-1.

After the game there wasn't a great outpouring of depressive emotions from the Gasheads inside the stadium. Way back after defeat at home to Dagenham fans had felt that it was done and dusted and that relegation was an inevitability but when Dave Penney was sacked and Stuart Campbell took over, winning three away games on the trot, there was a brief moment of hope but as their rivals kept plugging away and picking up points many remained pessimistic, and now it really is all over, a slight feeling of relief mixed with the sadness, no more sleepless nights over the will-we-won't-we situation and this one last hurrah against Colchester will hopefully see players and fans alike uninhibited, performing with a sense of freedom.

Saturday could be the last time that Rovers fans get to see start striker in a Gas shirt. The 25 year old has been far and away the Pirates best player this season, scoring a total of twenty goals in all competitions. He was superb up until mid-February, scoring 18 goals in just 32 games but in the 14 appearances since he has netted just twice, although he has spent time out with an ankle injury. He is likely to be sold in the summer with a Championship club seeming a likely destination with the potential transfer fee helping to bolster a new look squad to challenge for League 2 promotion.

No player has reached the ten goal mark in the league for Colchester thus far but two players have come close with nine. David Mooney, a Reading youngster on a seasons loan with the U's has scored 14 in all competitions including a goal last time out in the 4-2 defeat to Yeovil. A big, physical player Mooney was linked with a loan move to Rover last season though nothing ever came of it. The other player to hit the nine goal mark is former Bristol City striker Steven Gillespie, a scorer of goals against Rovers in previous encounters. There was only one appearance before the new year for the former Liverpool trainee but since he has played 18 games and scored those nine goals and he will no doubt be out to score against a club who always give him an ear full.

Rovers and Colchester have been in the same league for the last three seasons, playing each other five times with two wins apiece and a single draw, the most recent tie finishing 1-0 to Colchester on March 1st, Kayode Odejayi the man who scored the winner after a mistake from Rovers keeper Conrad Logan. One of the most exciting games between the clubs came in 2000, a Jason Roberts double and a Jamie Cureton strike had put Rovers 3-1 up at Layer Road before the U's came back to take a 4-3 lead. Nathan Ellington scored an 86th minute equaliser but with just a minute to go substitute Lomano Lua Lua netted to give the home side a dramatic 5-4 win.

Danny Coles looks set to miss out with the recurrence of an achilles injury that sidelined him against Bournemouth.

James Tunnicliffe and Jeff Hughes are longer term absentees with a foot injury and fractured wrist respectively while Stuart Campbell remains unavailable for self-selection with a dead calf.

Rumours also abound that forward Will Hoskins will not start the game as he is still looking slightly unfit with his ankle injury which Rovers will not want to aggravate if he is to be sold in the summer.

Former Rovers loanee Pat Baldwin (achilles) will be missing from the Colchester squad, as will Marcus Okuonghae (ankle).

Defender Matt Heath who signed a new contract during the week will be able to return after recovering from an illness as will Kemal Izzet who took a knock to his foot in defeat to Yeovil.

Gas assistant manager Craig Hinton wants his side to go out and earn one final victory for the loyal support the club has received from the fans over what has been a difficult season, he said:

"There is a lot of disappointment around at the moment, and it is about getting the lads in the mentality to go out and play the way we have done in the last so many games, and finish on a high in a season which has been full of lows.

"We came in Tuesday and it was quite low, and it is still a bit low today, but we need to lift the lads to give our all for the supporters who are going to be there.

"They have been brilliant for us, lets go and show the right attitude and get a win for them.

"If we can go there and finish on a high it gives us high spirits for the start of next year. We will be going there all guns blazing to get three points."

Colchester boss John Ward, a former Rovers manager, will put his feelings for Rovers to one side as he looks to finish his clubs season with a win, telling Sky Sports:

"I feel sad and disappointed for Bristol [Rovers], a team with whom I enjoyed my time earlier in my managerial career.

"But I have got to beat them with my team on Saturday. I want to give the fans something to go away and enjoy their summer with.

"We've got a very good home record and that's something I'm very proud of, so we want to finish with a win to give everyone a boost before the end of the season."

Girl Power!

The summer is supposed to be a time when football fans can have some downtime from the beautiful game, they can calm the frayed nerves of a tense title battle, put away the frustration of an inconsistent mid-table finish or relieve the depression that comes with relegation.

Last year was different, we had the world cup which England dramatically failed in, providing little joy to the national faithful, but if you thought you had some time to enjoy the more gentlemanly sports of cricket and tennis then you'd be wrong, this summer is all about football, women's football.

Come the middle of April the brand new FA Women's Super League kicked off with a bang, 2,510 people turned up at Imperial Fields in Surrey to watch Arsenal Ladies come away with a victory against their Chelsea counterparts. Later on Doncaster beat Liverpool and the next day current league leaders Birmingham thumped Bristol Academy 4-0 and Liverpool drew 3-3 with Everton in an exciting Merseyside derby.

Further on in the season Birmingham beat title favourites Arsenal 2-1, ex-Gunner Karen Carney netting the winner, and they have thus far never looked back, winning all five of their games and conceding just that goal against Arsenal.

Being from the west country there was only one team that I could support in this new league, Bristol Academy. The club was re-branded in 2005, they were formerly the Bristol Rovers Ladies team, a guise under which they have had much success, gaining promotions from the South-West Combination League up to the Women's Premiership and making three WFA Cup semi-finals. Since becoming Bristol Academy they have made two further semis, winning this years clash with Liverpool 3-0, putting them into their first FA Cup final which will be played later this month at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena against those Gunners from Arsenal.

After two away defeats in their first two Super League games Academy have played three consecutive matches at home, Grace McCatty getting a late leveller in the first against Liverpool. Loren Dykes then netted a similarly late goal to give her side their first win against Doncaster Rovers Belles before their most recent game against second placed Chelsea, a game for which I was in attendance.

From minute one under progressively cloudy skies the game was dominated by the home side, wingers Helen Bleazard and Loren Dykes providing constant threat from out wide, attacking midfielder Jess Fishlock popping up everywhere and striker Ann-Marie Heatherson running across the entire frontline to get on the ball. The technical ability of the players is top class, the central midfielders showing a great range of passing, the wide players taking on their full backs with great success while Fishlock and Heatherson showed good positional sense and looked to threaten the Londoner's back line with their movement at every opportunity.

Academy had a great penalty shout turned down in the first half, Chelsea getting away with a handball after the referee deemed the ball had run out of play at the byline. The second half did see a penalty awarded for handball however, Kylie Davies the culpable player, her blushes were spared, though, as Helen Bleazard drove the ball high over the crossbar to see the chance go begging. The same player went on to hit the frame of the goal with another shot later on but Chelsea did have one final chance to undeservedly win the game, Drew Spence thumping a shot off of Siobhan Chamberlain's crossbar at the other end.

It was certainly a game to be at, as well as the assorted members of the press and the usual high ranking club members former England international goalkeeper David James was in attendance. The atmosphere at the ground is family friendly, young children brought along could either choose to watch the game or have a kick about with their friends on the curved end of the athletics track behind one of the goalmouths while there was also face painting for those who wished to join the Academy 'Barmy Smurf Army' and sit in the stands just to one side of the dugouts. There was the usual assortment of food and sweets for fans to indulge in as well as a real ale tent for the adults, everything was catered for.

After the game many of the players mixed with the crowd as they made their way off the pitch, some going off for interviews with the media, not least birthday girl Anouk Hoogendijk, winner of player of the match, and all 371 fans at the game could go away pleased with having watched a good game of football and mixed with their heroines afterwards, as well as mascot Vicky the Vixen.

The league takes a two month break halfway through this month for the Women's World Cup to take place in Germany, aforementioned Bristol goalkeeper Chamberlain looking as though she will be a squad member with Euro 2009 runners-up England. All the games throughout the tournament will be shown live on ESPN, as will England's final warm-up match against Sweden from the Kassam Stadium in Oxford. ESPN have in fact taken the rights to the FAWSL, a weekly highlights show rounds up all the action with live games from the league also being shown sporadically during the remainder of the season.

With a new, professionally marketed league taking shape, a world cup where good progress can be made looming on the horizon and a broadcast partner willing to showcase the women's game to the nations next generation there is no reason why in eight or twelve years time we couldn't see the England Women's team lifting the world cup aloft, and who knows, if we're lucky it may just happen at Wembley.

One things for certain though, HJBSports will definitely be reporting from more Academy games this season!

Decision Time Looms For The Rovers Board

Keep calm and carry on, that's what the board of Bristol Rovers must do following the clubs relegation down to League 2 and the first big decision they must make comes with the appointment of a new manager. The man who came so close to helping Rovers survive has thrown his name in the hat and there are sure to be other candidates who would love the chance to take over the Gas.

Current caretaker player-manager Stuart Campbell confirmed his interest in taking the job permanently following the draw with Sheffield Wednesday that all but sent his team down. After the game he spoke to bristolrovers.co.uk and said:

"I have really enjoyed being manager, but it is out of my hands, I don't know what the future holds but I would like to lead Bristol Rovers next season."

There is no doubt that Campbell is swiftly making his way to legendary status among the Rovers fans, he has spent nearly seven years at the club and captained the side for almost five before taking over after the sacking of Dave Penney in March and he swiftly turned results and feelings around. From watching the games that followed you could tell the players spirit was back, they had a person they all respected in charge of them, a leader and an all round, genial nice guy who is known to have taken some of the players aside individually for chats, telling them what they are good at and bringing back their footballing self-worth.

Campbell is not perfect, however, and the football being served up, though better than what was seen under Penney, can at best be described as 'Trollope-esque'. The midfield are sat far too deep and there is no width being utilised whatsoever and some of the tactical decisions have been slightly bemusing too, the away game at Bournemouth being a prime example of this. Down to ten men after David McCracken's red card away to Bournemouth the management team of Campbell and Hinton decided to put 5' 5" attacking midfielder Wayne Brown at left back, taking away one of the teams most potent attacking threats, Brown having already given Rovers the lead.

Campbell was then forced off with injury and JP Kalala replaced him in the defensive midfield role, despite having the ability to play in the full back position which would have allowed Brown to remain in midfield. Harry Pell could have perhaps come on in central midfield and replaced Jo Kuffour who actually played the rest of the game at left midfield, a position from which he posed very little attacking threat, and with Kuffour and Brown making up Rovers left side heaven only knows what would have happened if Lee Bradbury had told his threatening wide man Liam Feeney to switch wings.

But if it isn't Campbell who takes over who else would be mad enough for the job? Danny Wilson's name has been touted and he would certainly bring a lot of experience to Rovers. Early in his managerial career he took Barnsley to the Premier League before a quiet spell at Sheffield Wednesday, one of the clubs he had previously played for. He moved onto Rovers rivals Bristol City in 2000 and in 2004 guided them to the then Division 2 play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, a game they lost 1-0 to Brighton.

A short stint at MK Dons was followed by winning promotion from League 2 with Hartlepool before he went to another west country club in Swindon Town, initially saving them from relegation before assaulting the promotion places in 2010, eventually getting the Wiltshire Robins to Wembley for another play-off final defeat. Wilson resigned in March with Swindon looking like cannon fodder for the rest of the league, though he did have to put up with key players such as Billy Paynter, Gordon Greer and Charlie Austin being sold from underneath him.

Recently sacked from Coventry one man seen watching Rovers game against Wednesday was Aidy Boothroyd. The former Rovers player took Watford on an adventure in the Premiership in the 2006/07 season after winning promotion to the big time. He managed Colchester for the best part of a season, briefly flirting with the play-offs, before he was given the opportunity at Coventry, a job he was eventually released from after a run of one win in sixteen. Though he had success at Watford and did a reasonable job at Colchester the poor run at Coventry will do him no good at all and his direct, physical approach would not impress a set of fans who have seen their fair share of ugly football over the past few seasons.

Campbell remains favourites with bookmakers Victor Chandler at evens with current Exeter City first team coach and Rovers record signing Andy Tillson sat second in the list at 6/1, though both are inexperienced at full managerial level, Tillson is known to be a good coach and has seen Exeter go from strength to strength alongside Paul Tisdale, but what Rovers need is someone to come in and put the squad and backroom staff through a filter, weed out those who don't want to be there, keep hold of the key players and have some nous in the transfer market, recognising what needs to be improved and doing it in a timely manner.

My personal choice would be a slightly unpopular one, Jim Gannon. He did not endear himself to the Rovers fans with his comments following a postponed game that was set to be played between his Stockport side and the Gas and the Rovers fans looked gleefully on as they kept County out of the end of season play-offs. Since then Gannon won the following years play-off final and got Stockport promoted and has managed at Motherwell, where he won plaudits for his attractive football but was let go after failing to get on with the clubs directors, apparently looked at jobs at other clubs and not being fully commited to the Well.

He then went on to manage Peterborough and with the club looking already relegated when he was appointed restored some pride to the Posh fans before stepping aside to allow Gary Johnson to take over. It is not all good on the Gannon front, though, as his short time in charge of Port Vale proved how his feisty and unrepentant nature can go against him. In little over two months he took Vale from a comfortable play-off place to languishing just outside the top seven and was eventually sacked after becoming highly unpopular with the players and fans alike.

Overall, however, Gannon would make a quick impression on Rovers and certainly kick the club into life. It may not be pretty but given a full pre-season I'm sure he would get the job done. Some of the players may not like his man-management style but the way he sets his sides up to play football is attractive and would no doubt help improve attendances and, with some of the players at Rovers disposal, could potentially garner superb results.

This is all pie-in-the-sky though, one of the reasons he didn't take over permanently at Peterborough and turned down the job that was surely to be offered to him at Brighton was because he didn't want to move his family away from Stockport, so even if Rovers came out and made him their marked man they may not get the reply they would be looking for.

But whoever takes over has a big job to do, changes need to be made to the footballing staff at the club with good time left before the season starts, chairman Nick Higgs stated in a recent interview that we could expect some news 'in the next couple of weeks'. With Campbell's appointment seemingly being the last throw of the dice the board have had a long time to think about their new man and with the pre-season period just over the hill a decision needs to be made in a timely fashion.