Rovers release 13 including Whelan
Defender Harries is also among the players departing the Memorial Stadium
BRISTOL Rovers have published their retained list, confirming the release of 13 players, including promotion hero Glenn Whelan and defender Cian Harries.
Whelan starred at the base of midfield in Rovers’ final-day 7-0 win over Scunthorpe and boss Joey Barton had indicated he wanted the former Stoke City and Aston Villa man to stay on in north Bristol, potentially also in a coaching role.
Captain Paul Coutts also paid tribute to the Republic of Ireland international, who is studying for his UEFA Pro License, for his leadership and guidance over the last nine months.
But the 38-year-old, whose family are based in Cheshire, is on the list to be leaving BS7 alongside Harries, who had been a regular starter at the beginning of the campaign, but fell down the pecking order following the arrival of James Connolly from Cardiff City in January and Barton’s switch to a back four.
Of the other names to have played first-team minutes in the 2021/22 campaign, veterans Brett Pitman, Leon Clarke and Junior Brown, will also be released at the expiry of their contracts next month.
The departures also include academy graduate Cam Hargreaves, who was a first-team presence under Barton’s predecessor Ben Garner, and midfielder Ben Liddle who was also signed during that time.
There was no mention of attacking players Antony Evans and Sam Nicholson, goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola or wide man Alex Rodman’s respective situations. All four are out of contract next month, but Rovers have not indicated whether they have
been offered new contracts have accepted them, or if options have been triggered.
Evans’ situation is particularly of interest given his performances throughout 2021/22, in which he scored ten goals and provided 12 assists from midfield.
Since the start of the year, Barton, pictured, has indicated talks would take place upon conclusion of the season once the club knew which division they would be playing in.
Nicholson has been with Rovers since 2020 and has been a regular starter for both Barton and Garner, while Rodman is the club’s longestserving player outside of those who have been developed through the academy system, having been signed from Shrewsbury in 2018.
Jaakkola’s injury issues has seen the Finn lose his status as the club’s number one to James Belshaw but remains a popular figure in the dressing room and Rovers retain a one-year option on his contract.
As is the norm, the retained list also confirms the return of on-loan players to their parent clubs – Elliot
Anderson (Newcastle), Luke Thomas (Barnsley), James Connolly (Cardiff), Connor Taylor (Stoke) and Sion Spence (Crystal Palace).
Putting Evans, Nicholson, Rodman and Jaakkola to one side, it leaves Rovers with 13 first-teamers, plus Zain Westbrooke should he be welcomed back in the fold after spending the second half of the campaign on loan at Stevenage.
Experienced midfielder Jon Nolan has also been let go, having only joined in February, while youngsters Ollie Hulbert, Pablo Martinez, Tom Mehew, Kieran Phillips and Lucas Tomlinson are all departing too.
That should interest Lee Mansell at Gloucester City, as all bar Phillips spent time on loan at New Meadow Park this season.