Bristol Rovers due back to base as Ipswich bid rejected for Leicester striker

Bristol Rovers continue their pre-season preparations by approaching the last few days of their stay in Portugal.

Joey Barton has taken most of his first-team squad to the Algarve, as well as some youth players who featured in the FA Cup defeat back in January.

The Gas flew out last weekend and were joined by John Marquis, who along with his new teammates have basked in the hot sun.

Here’s the latest stories around the Memorial Stadium and their League One rivals

Portugal pre-season tour nears its end

Bristol Rovers players and staff are due to make their way back to base as their time in Portugal nears its conclusion.

For the last week or so, they have been staying at the Browns Sports Resort in Vilamoura.

No pre-season friendly has been played out there despite the raft of Football League teams that have chosen to go out to the Algarve to prepare.

Instead, an open training session has been held which allowed the fans that flew out there to watch on.

They will be back shortly as on Tuesday night (July 12) they have two pre-season friendlies against Bath City and Chippenham Town, both of the National League South.

Ipswich bid rejected for Leicester City forward

Ipswich Town - one of the favourites for League One - have seen a bid rejected for George Hirst by Leicester City.

The News say that the Portsmouth loanee from last season was subject of a bid from the Tractor Boys and they wanted to add him to their front line, though Pompy remain optimistic they could re-sign him.

Port Vale see another player depart

Fellow League One newcomers Port Vale have seen another one of their players depart.

After losing James Gibbons to the Gas on a free transfer, they have now seen Jake Taylor leave. He has joined Morecambe for an undisclosed fee despite having two years remaining on his contract.

Taylor said: “I just wanted to go to a Club where I felt wanted, play regularly and express myself.

“You want the manager’s belief and the manager has shown that in me by bringing me here. “As a player you want to play at the highest level possible, it is the unknown for me, it is a step up but hopefully, as a team and individually, we can have a good season.”