Rovers players looking to impress during training stint at Bisham Abbey

THE next chapter of Joey Barton’s tenure in charge of Bristol Rovers began yesterday with a trip to Berkshire.

The Gas will spend the week at the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to kick off their pre-season training regime, as Barton’s newlook squad prepares for life in League Two.

Rovers’ arrived at the facility yesterday morning and have embarked on their preparations for the new campaign, with their first friendly being held at Melksham Town on Friday.

Barton wanted to take his players on an SAS-style boot camp in Hereford, but those plans were discarded due to Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, the Gas will do their work at the former base of the England national team before the creation of St George’s Park. Bisham Abbey has also hosted the England women’s national team, Barcelona and many other teams over the years.

In addition to several pitches, the site - overseen by Sport England boasts a strength and conditioning facility, a spa, and a sport science centre.

Should the manager grant his players any downtime, there is also a nine-hole golf course and even a clay tennis court on site.

Yesterday morning was the first time many of Barton’s players had met, with more than a dozen departures and seven new signings brought in so far.

Anssi Jaakkola is one man who will not be present this week. The Finland international is enjoying a break after spending several weeks away from home on duty at Euro 2020. Sam Nicholson, too, is not in attendance. The Bristol Post understands he is still weeks away from rejoining the first-team group after surgery on a hip injury.

Several young players have made the trip to Berkshire with Barton and his squad, including teenager Ryan Jones, who was signed from Weston-super-Mare in October last year. He spent the season in the development squad, and the versatile left-footer now has a chance to impress the man in charge.

For many players, they are at a crossroads in their careers. Barton has warned he will not accept any slack standards throughout preseason, and the surviving members of the squad that was relegated in hapless fashion just a few months ago are fully aware that they need to be on their A-game from day one.