Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Rovers seal the deal for Collins and Saunders
BRISTOL Rovers have won the race to sign Aaron Collins on a free transfer from Forest Green Rovers, with a number of clubs in League One and League Two having been keen on the front man.
Collins has penned a two-year contract at the Memorial Stadium and was unveiled on the same day the club landed Harvey Saunders on a similar deal following his release from Fleetwood.
Bristol Live, the sister website of the Daily Press, understands that League One Cheltenham were among the clubs who made an offer to Collins, but the Welshman has opted for a move to Bristol.
Barton is certainly delighted to get his man, with Collins bringing much more than goalscoring to a frontline which was the worst in League One last season as Rovers finished rock bottom of the table.
“We are thrilled to secure Aaron’s signature as we know there were plenty of suitors,” Barton said. “He’s shown that he’s capable of scoring and creating goals at this level and was a constant attacking threat for Forest Green last season.
“He can play in several positions across the forward line and that flexibility will give us different options in how we set up.
“Aaron is an ambitious lad, who wants to be part of a squad that gets promoted out of League Two.
“That is our collective goal, and I’m hopeful we achieve that together this forthcoming season.”
Collins, who started his career at Newport County, scored 16 goals in 83 games for Forest Green but also impressed with his creativity and invention around the penalty area.
Barton’s striking options are now looking more healthy than at the start of the week, with Collins and Saunders joining Brandon Hanlan and Jonah Ayunga in attack.
Saunders’ arrival in north Bristol makes him the third of Barton’s old charges to swap Fleetwood for Rovers, following Paul Coutts and Sam Finley.
He enjoyed a stellar start to the 2020/21 League One season, played behind closed doors with few eyeballs on him, but spent most of the campaign as an impact substitute for the Cod Army – his 21 League One appearances averaged just 23 minutes per game.
“I’ve worked with the gaffer and the coaching staff before, as soon as they come in, there was only one decision,” Saunders said. “For me personally, him and the coaching staff have been really good.
“I need someone to tell me the things I’m not doing right, there’s no beating around the bush, tell me straight ‘This is what you’re not doing, this is what you need to do, so crack on and do it’. That developed me as a player, that’s what I want.”
Meanwhile, George Williams has become the latest Rovers player to leave the club on a free transfer before his contract expires with the defender joining Cambridge United.
Williams’ exit means Barton has no senior right-backs currently in the first-team set-up.