Garner’s return is not Barton’s focus

Rovers boss concentrating on League Two clash, not predecessor’s presence

JOEY Barton insists the return of Ben Garner to the Memorial Stadium this afternoon presents no distraction for Bristol Rovers as they face Swindon Town.

Boss Barton has been blunt in his criticism of Garner, who took charge of Rovers for the opening 11 games of last season, which ultimately ended in relegation to League Two.

Garner, pictured, was sacked after a 4-1 defeat to Fleetwood, then managed by Barton, in November last year, and Barton has not held in his assessment of where last season went wrong for Rovers.

The current Rovers manager, who was the third and final boss of a miserable 2020/21 campaign for the Pirates, doubled down on some of his critiques at his pre-match press conference yesterday, but he insists the off-field scene set over the past 12 months will have no bearing on Saturday’s result.

“(It means) nothing for me,” said Barton. “It’s good to see Ben back on the horse. It’s a tough profession, this, and we’re all aware of what went on last season.

“For us, it’s just about taking care of business. We’ve got a team that we want to get a positive result and a positive performance against.

“It just happens to be the manager who’s probably the most susceptible for the club’s relegation. He will have to take that on the chin, Ben, as I will and as Paul Tisdale will.

“We’re all culpable for the club not being in League One and I don’t think he’s done that maliciously. He tried to the best of his ability to build a team here, and I can understand the frustration having inherited some of the on and off-field issues