Two strikers turned down Rovers – CEO

still felt we wouldn’t finish any lower than mid-table, which would have been on target to then make a push next season to finish higher.

“So we’re very disappointed, for the club, for the fans, that we found ourselves sliding into a relegation position.

“We do need to revisit the way we identify players coming into the building. We’ve always had a policy of the manager choosing the players. That will continue, but we have to make sure we get the balance of the squad correct.”

“Going into this season, we didn’t quite have that right. I think Ben felt that there were enough goals in the side and there was enough physicality and the way he wanted to play, the players were recruited for that purpose. But it’s proven to be not enough for this division.”

Starnes also addressed the club’s failed pursuit of Preston striker Jayden Stockley, who was in talks to move to north Bristol on loan in January, having worked with Tisdale at Exeter, only to choose to sign for Charlton.

Stockley has since scored eight goals in 21 games for the Addicks, while Starnes also revealed a lastminute attempt to bring in Danny Hylton from Luton was rejected by the Hatters striker.

The CEO added: “I managed to negotiate terms with Preston (for Stockley), which seemed to be accepted (but) he chose Charlton, probably due to their position in the League. I’ve found out that our offer was 50 percent more than Charlton are paying, so it was nothing to do with finances.

“I asked about Danny Hylton and Luton were prepared to let him come, but he wanted to fight for his place there.”

Rovers conclude their League One campaign at play-off-bound Blackpool tomorrow (noon).

BRISTOL Rovers chief executive Martyn Starnes claims he held “reservations” over the club’s recruitment last summer.

Rovers’ relegation to League Two was confirmed last month following a tortuous season under Ben Garner, Paul Tisdale and Joey Barton, punctuated by struggles in front of goal with the team finding the net just 40 times in 45 third tier games.

After selling Jonson ClarkeHarris in August, Rovers recruited Brandon Hanlan from Gillingham, but that left the club with just three frontline forwards: Hanlan, Jonah Ayunga, signed from nonLeague Havant & Waterlooville, and James Daly, in his first full professional season. Hanlan has scored seven times in 44 League One appearances, Daly three in 27, with 13 starts, and Ayunga two in 30, also with 13 starts.

“At the beginning of the season we thought we had recruited well,” Starnes said. “I did have some reservations about the number of goals that were in the squad and the physicality, but we