Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Brown on the way out of Rovers, says Barton
JUNIOR Brown is set to depart Bristol Rovers, according to manager Joey Barton. Barton and the defender were due to hold talks after training yesterday, with the manager minded to part ways with the former Coventry City and Fleetwood Town man.
Brown, 32, joined the club as a free agent on deadline day in August and has made six appearances, but he has not featured since sustaining a thigh injury at Harrogate Town in October.
“He’s still not 100 per cent (fit),” Barton revealed. “I’m due to have a conversation with him at some point about possibly moving on.
“I don’t think it’s going to work out for us. I’m not sure what options he’s got, but for us, if you’re not playing you’re not going to be here long.
“For me, either you’re playing and contributing, or you’re on an exit path from the football club because we can’t have any passengers.
“It hasn’t quite worked out for Junior yet and I don’t think it’s going to work out for him.
“Sometimes transfers and signings don’t work out. We took Junior for a bit of cover and he hasn’t hit the ground running, similarly with Trevor Clarke, and we’re going to have to get players in who can hit the ground running and help our football team.”
Left wing-back has been a bit of a problem position this season with Clarke and Brown missing long periods through injury, but with Clarke back in contention and Josh
Grant performing well in the role Barton is prepared to let Brown go.
He would be the fifth first-team player to depart this month, with Mark Hughes, Zain Westbrooke and Zain Walker all finding new clubs, while teenage goalkeeper Jed Ward has been sent out on a short-term loan to Swindon Supermarine.
Another Rovers player with an uncertain future is Sion Spence, who was not included in the squad for the win over Hartlepool six days ago.
The Crystal Palace loanee has scored three important goals since arriving in the summer, including the match-winning brace against Oxford in the FA Cup, but he has not seized chances in the starting XI.
Barton is yet to be told by Palace whether they are considering recalling the player, but the manager says it is not his responsibility to put the 21-year-old in the side.
He explained: “It’s quite straightforward, if you’re not in the team, it’s not my job to get you in the team. It’s your job to make sure I can’t leave you out of the side.
“Unluckily for Sion, we’ve got more than 11 good players here and there is high competition for places, especially in his position because Antony Evans, Sam Finley’s now back, you’ve got Sam Nicholson, Luke Thomas and Leon Clarke has come back in.”
Rovers are away to Swindon in League Two this afternoon.