Bristol Rovers target signs new contract and former Gas striker gets international call up

Liam Sercombe has penned a new contract with Bristol Rovers’ League One rivals Cheltenham Town.

The 32-year-old has agreed to a new one-year deal with the Robins after his previous one was due to expire this summer.

Despite interest from a host of clubs, Sercombe has opted to remain at Whaddon Road for a further season.

In January, it was reported the Gas were interested in taking the midfielder back to the Memorial Stadium but despite yielding both a loan and permanent offer, he stayed put with Elliot Anderson and Jon Nolan signed instead.

Sercombe won the League Two title in the 2020/21 season after being released by Ben Garner and then made 41 appearances at Cheltenham this campaign as they earned their highest finish in the third tier.

Sercombe’s extension has now put to bed any chances of a return to the West Country, as he holds down a spot in Cheltenham’s midfield.

One-time Rovers loanee Charlie Colkett, who was at the club in 2016, is available however after he was released at the end of the season.

Colkett was at Cheltenham from January onwards and made nine outings, but was not kept on.

Former top scorer released by Hull City

Tom Eaves, who was Rovers’ top scorer in the 2012/13 season has been released by Championship side Hull City.

Eaves scored seven goals in 16 appearances for the Gas having joined on loan from Bolton Wanderers in the second part of the season.

He had a fairly successful spell at Gillingham, scoring 40 goals in 97 appearances which earned him a move to Hull, but after three seasons at the MKM Stadium, he has been moved on.

There was an option to extend his stay at the club with a year option but they passed up on that opportunity, despite his five goals in 33 outings this campaign.

Given that only Aaron Collins, Harvey Saunders and Ryan Loft are the only senior strikers that will be in contract next season, he could be an option.

Former Gas man called up to Jamaica squad

Jonson Clarke-Harris, formerly of Bristol Rovers and now of Peterborough United, has been called up to the Jamaican national team.

He has been called up to the 20-man squad that will face Catalonia in a friendly match next week.

It is the first time that he has been chosen to play international football, having qualified through his grandmother who is from there. He has only visited the country two times but will now get the chance to represent the Reggae Boys.

“I am over the moon,” he said to Peterborough’s official club website. I can’t wait! It will be a great feeling to put on the Jamaica shirt and hopefully I can still be in and around it moving forward.”

Clarke-Harris will be lining up against Rovers as it stands after Peterborough were relegated to League One.

Another former loanee released

Hiram Boateng, a one-time loanee at Bristol Rovers has been released by League One outfit MK Dons.

Boateng, who had been with the Buckinghamshire outfit since 2019, has not had his contract renewed.

A midfielder by trade, Boateng was at the Mem in 2016 and played nine times in the 2016/17 season, but was later moved on to Northampton. He spent last season on loan at Cambridge United but fought his way back into the side to make 29 appearances as his side suffered defeat in the play-off semi finals.