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.