Joey Barton gives update on contract ‘impasse’ and Bristol Rovers transfer plans

Joey Barton has said that he is happy with the contract offers put out to out-of-contract Bristol Rovers, but are at an impasse with Harry Anderson.

The Gas have several members of their squad out-of-contract at the end of the season, and Anderson is the headline player of those whose futures are undecided. The 26-year-old has been in-and-out of the team this year and has missed parts of the season through injury. He recently underwent groin surgery, but has returned to make appear in Rovers last three matches.

Football League bound Wrexham, as well as Rovers' League One rivals Portsmouth and other unnamed clubs are said to have been keeping tabs on the situation, Rovers began talks before the New Year, and now with just a few months left on his contract, will need to prove that he is deserving of a new deal.

He said: "We’re speaking to them, I think Harry has had a contract offer and we’ve had an impasse in between. Harry is somebody that is well thought of within the group. Sometimes people think they can get more money or whatever. It’s the player and the agent's procreative.

"I think we’ve made them a fair offer as we have done a few of the lads. There will be some feedback on that and hopefully we can get them resolved. As I say, we’ve got to be careful here, we’re trying build a group to push on next year and finish higher this year. From our perspective, there’s a sustainability element we’ve got to do it on whatever budget the boss (Al-Qadi) and Tom Gorringe settle on and give us.

"We haven’t got unlimited pots of money and usually when you start renegotiating with someone they want more money. It’s tricky because if you want more money you tend to be playing more regular and doing really well. The next few weeks will flush that out with their players and their agents. Hopefully we’ll get some closure before the season is out and the lads will know where they stand."

Player-coach Glenn Whelan's one-year deal is up, as well as Paul Coutts who by Barton's terms is undergoing 'work experience' after his season was brought to an end. Barton admitted it might be the last time Coutts plays for the club after suffering a knee injury last month, whilst Grant Ward and Calum Macdonald's short-term deals are up this summer also. Josh Grant, who has played just ten minutes this season, but is closing in on a return, is one more player Barton will need to decide on.

Rovers have five loan players whose deals end at the end of this season, and there is no guarantee that any of them will return, which will make for a busy task during the months of May to August. If several players commit their futures to the club, new arrivals could be limited to five or six, but it is likely that almost an entire new 11 will need to be recruited to help Barton in his quest of turning Rovers in to a promotion chasing side.

"For me, we think that’s a fair contract, if you want to sign it, if they do great if they don’t they can kick on and we’ll look at a different option. I’m hoping I’ve got five or six to do in the summer but the reality is I might have to do eight, nine, ten or 12 depending on renegotiation and loans at the back end of the window.

"It’s not the 20’s I’m having to do when I first came in. It’s not the norm at League One to do that it is all we aspire to."