DARRELL ACCEPTS HE’LL BE BARGAIN HUNTING
DARRELL Clarke would love to be shopping in Waitrose this January but admits Poundland may be more realistic in his quest for new players.
Bristol Rovers had lost nine of their last ten matches before yesterday’s game against Rotherham, leaving Clarke counting down the days until the transfer window reopens and he can call on the cavalry.
And the Pirates boss has lots of names he is ready to present to the board ahead of a recruitment drive.
“I’ve got three lists,” revealed Clarke. “I have a Waitrose list, an Aldi list and a Poundland list.
“I put players to the board, like in the summer, and we’ll see what we can bring in. We would be saying the same even if we were on a good run. We would still be freshening things up.
“The board say to come to them with what I want, but it’s not as easy as that.
“I’d much rather have a figure I can use to spend. But we’ve got to go to them – that’s not a problem. I’ll pass it on to the chairman – three lists.”
Arguably just as important as bringing in reinforcements for Rovers is retaining top scorer Billy Bodin, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old Welsh striker had notched nine goals ahead of the weekend, despite missing six weeks of action with a hamstring injury.
Clarke has urged the directors to loosen the purse strings.
“We have to raise our salaries if we are going to keep our better players,” he said. “We spend within our means and I can’t imagine that changing.
“But we’re still in the bottom six for the salaries we pay players.
“Until we can start overachieving again, like we’ve done the last couple of years, the place will be a little disgruntled.”