Bristol Rovers announce deadline day return as Gas aim to solve goalkeeper crisis

Bristol Rovers were dealt a significant blow to their chances of remaining in League One on transfer deadline day when first-choice goalkeeper Josh Griffiths was recalled from his loan by parent club West Brom – but the Gas seem to have found a solution.

Rovers announced on Monday evening that they would in turn recall young goalkeeper Jed Ward from his loan spell at Forest Green Rovers. Ward has made 28 appearances for the National League side this season, helping them to reach third in the table as they look for a return to the Football League.

Ward will now compete for the starting job under new head coach Inigo Calderon with current back-up Matthew Hall and new loan signing Myles Roberts, who was signed from Watford late on deadline day. Hall, who like Ward is 21, has featured in the EFL Trophy this season but has yet to start a league game, while 23-year-old Roberts has no Football League experience but did impress on loan with Partick Thistle across the first half of this season.

Former star Ward returns

Ward was briefly Rovers’ starting goalkeeper in the 2023/24 season and was named the club’s Young Player of the Year for his performances over the course of that campaign. He has made a total of 24 appearances for the club across all competitions, but has spent most of his time as a Bristol Rovers play away on loan in non-league, where he has turned out for five different clubs including Wealdstone and Prescot Cables.

His most recent loan move to Forest Green has been a success and his performances in the fifth tier bode well for his chances of keeping the goals out in what promises to be a challenging League One relegation battle.

A crucial 3-1 win over Peterborough United on Saturday has given the Gas a six-point cushion above the drop zone but there is still a long way to go before Calderon’s side can feel comfortable about their league position, and the performances of their inexperienced goalkeepers could be pivotal down the home straight.

West Brom were forced to recall Griffiths after their own first-choice, Alex Palmer, was unexpectedly signed by Ipswich Town on deadline day in a deal which is believed to be worth up to £5m. The Gas will now, in turn, pass the problem on to Forest Green.

Deadline day reinforcements arrive

Ward isn’t the only fresh face that has been brought in to bolster Calderon’s squad ahead of a potentially challenging League One run-in - the loan signings of 21-year-old Aston Villa centre-back Sil Swinkels and 19-year-old Cardiff City forward Michael Reindorf, both of whom are moving to the Memorial Stadium on a temporary basis, were also announced on Monday.

The Gas have also avoided losing key players outside of Griffiths, with a reported transfer bid for veteran right-back Jack Hunt from Shrewsbury Town rebuffed on Monday. Manager Calderon will now hope that his new reinforcements are sufficient to help him steer the club away from danger. Following the win over Peterborough, Bristol Rovers now have a six-point buffer over the League One relegation zone.

Rovers also added the signings of midfielder Romaine Sawyers on a free transfer and the loan capture of Wycombe Wanderers’ Matt Butcher earlier in the transfer window.