Bristol Rovers' season is beginning to falter out and there's already a feeling that many already have one eye on what happens in the summer.
Joey Barton admitted in the defeat to Portsmouth on Saturday that he wished the 2022/23 campaign would end today, and admitted the struggles of motivating the team at this stage of the competition. Rovers are seven points off of their 52-point target set at the start of the season which would ensure their survival.
Survival in the first year after promotion from League Two was always going to be the first objective, but a good run of form just before Christmas, had fans, players and staff alike wondering if a play-off push was a possibility. Since the turn of the New Year, it's been hard to get a consistent run of form, with multiple factors such as a spate of injuries, refereeing decisions going against them and individual errors.
This summer is set to a big one, and there will be several decisions to be made as to who stays and who goes. This season there has been a reliance on loan players, and once they return to their parent clubs, Barton will have to use his contacts book again to persuade Premier League and Championship clubs to take their players off them and develop them.
BristolWorld takes a look at the players that could likely leave the Memorial Stadium this summer alongside a couple of maybes and the stars that definitely won’t be going anywhere.
1. James Belshaw - 6
Seven clean sheets out of a possible 32 in League One, Belshaw’s had a few tricky moments, including a spell in February. He’s made a few errors, but has still saved Rovers plenty of times. Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images
2. James Connolly - 4
A higher level, multiple centre-back partners, and a spell out with injury has meant it’s not been plain sailing for Connolly in his first full season. He will need to improve before the seasons out as he’s one of the only contracted CB’s at the club. Photo: Pete Norton/Getty Images)
3. Lewis Gordon - 5
For someone who’s not had much experience in the EFL, Gordon’s done okay so far. He’s dealt well with some of the best wingers in League One, but there have been other games where he’s been targeted. Photo: Alex Burstow/Getty Images
4. Josh Grant - N/A
Ten minutes of action against Oxford United means we can’t even judge Grant. Hopefully he can return before the campaign is out. Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images