Bristol City headlines as Nigel Pearson talks on hold as ex-Robin gets Champions League move

Bristol City remain busy in the transfer market amid two bid for Derby County midfielder Jason Knight.

The Robins are said to have had two bids rejected by the Rams for the 22-capped Ireland international, with the latest being £1.5m. Telegraph journalist James Piercy said they were ‘getting closer’ but according to BristolLive, City are now considering their options.

City have so far spent money on Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie, but avoided having to pay a fee for Haydon Roberts. Money is available following Antoine Semenyo’s sale to Bournemouth, and crowds were good at Ashton Gate last season.

Bristol City are also set to get a six-figure-fee for Kane Wilson, who is all set to join Bolton Wanderers, with a medical scheduled. Wilson made just seven appearances for City, and will now hope to rejuvenate his career in League One.

Here’s the latest Bristol City headlines:

No talks yet for Nigel Pearson

Club CEO Phil Alexander admits Bristol City aren’t in a hurry to enter contact negotiations with manager Nigel Pearson.

Pearson is entering the third and final year of his contract, and admitted to ITV in an interview last year it could be his last job. The 59-year-old has assembled the squad in his image, and has progressed each year.

“That’ll be done at the right time,” responded Alexander to BristolLive in an interview regarding any contract talks.

“He’s experienced, he knows the ins and outs of running football clubs.

“Ultimately, he wants success. We went through a very difficult period when he joined, contracts he had to see out, and we’ve kind of finally got to the end of that now.

“I think he’s genuinely excited about the future. Working with him, that enthusiasm, that experience shines through all the time. It’s been great.”

Champions League move for ex-Robin

One former Bristol City midfielder will now get the chance to play in the Champions League. Rory Holden has joined Welsh champions The New Saints, following his departure from Port Vale.

He didn’t make an appearance for the Robins in the three years he was at the club, but turned out for Rochdale, Walsall and Port Vale in League One and League Two.

TNS won the Cymru Premier, which is the Welsh Premier League, and they will face Swedish outfit BK Häcken.

Double-winner finds out European fate

Mark Little, a League One and EFL Trophy winner in 2014/15, will get to play on the European stage. He qualified for the Europa Conference League with Penybont after they finished third in the Cymru Premier.

Little, who has been at the club for a season, having joined from Yeovil Town, will come up against Andorran outfit FC Santa Coloma.

New experiences

He may not have made it off the bench, but Joe Low has hailed the time he had with the Welsh national team this month.

The 21-year-old from Filton, who qualifies for Wales through his grandfather, was in Turkey on Monday, and was an unused substitute in Wales’ 2-0 defeat to Turkey. Former Bristol City midfielder Joe Morrell was sent off, and that meant Low will have to wait for his first senior international appearance.

Commenting on his time with Rob Page’s squad, he said: “Honoured to be called up to the @FAWales senior team and learn from this new experiences.”

Sykes an unused sub

Jason Knight was man-of-the-match for Ireland in their win over Gibraltar, but there was no place for Mark Sykes. Sykes was an unused substitute in both of Ireland’s matches over the international break. Anis Mehmeti, played 23 minutes against Moldova, and then 27 minutes against Luxembourg as a substitute.