Rovers Make Double Loan Swoop

Bristol Rovers have secured the signings of Rene Howe and Scott Davies on a months loan each.

24 year old forward Howe started his career with his home town club Bedford United before moving onto Conference North side Kettering who he helped reach second place in the league with 25 goals and from there he moved onto his current parent club Peterborough. To date he has made only three starts for the London Road club, scoring just a single goal.

Much of Howe's time has seen him out on loan, scoring 9 in 23 for Rochdale and 12 in 41 for Morecambe, both spells in League 2. Further loan terms saw him spend time at Gillingham, then in League 1, and Lincoln last season and at the beginning of this footballing year the 6ft striker went to Conference side Rusdhen & Diamonds, netting 6 times in 20 appearances and leaving with Diamonds manager Justin Edinburgh claiming numerous Football League sides were interested in claiming the strikers signature. Some fans of LivingTV's reality show Dating In The Dark may also remember Howe's appearance on the programme, which didn't end particularly well and saw him described as a 'cocky footballer' by the Sky TV Guide.

Howe talked about his pleasure at joining Rovers and knows that the deal could be extended, he said:

"I've signed a one month loan initially, with both parties pretty much in agreement that it can be extended at the end of that time.

"I'm happy to come here. I just needed to get away from Peterborough and to play some games.

"It's not been the best of times for me at Peterborough and I've been out on loan quite a lot during my time there."

Rovers manager Dave Penney is pleased to have a bulkier striker in his squad, giving him an extra option:

"Obviously we have been looking round for a bigger striker and Rene fits that bill.

"He's got the physical presence that we have been looking for as a different option for Jo and Will and it just gives me a different option up front."

The second name announced to have joined was that of Reading central midfielder Scott Davies.


Davies began his youth career at Watford before joining Wycombe and then current club Reading. Opportunities at the Madejski have been limited for the 22 year old who has spent a great deal of time out on loan, spending two seasons with Aldershot, who gained promotion from the Conference National with Davies in the side, scoring 13 goals in his second spell with the Shots in League 2. Two stints back at Wycombe and a short loan to Yeovil followed to give the attacking midfielder a decent level of Football League experience.

Penney also spoke about Davies and how he is bolstering his midfield choices, saying:

"Scott is a midfielder who we've known about for a while and he's been out on loan at Aldershot and at Wycombe where he's gained some invaluable experience.

"It gives us another body in midfield, where we were going to be a little bit lightweight due to the fact that Chris Lines is suspended for the next two games, and Scott goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's game."

Both Howe and Davies will go straight into the squad for Rovers game against Walsall at the weekend. Howe will wear squad number 9 while Davies has been assigned 33.