'Exciting' - Matt Taylor outlines what the future could hold for Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers boss Matt Taylor says the Gas’ future is “exciting” as he and his team begin to build for the future.

The 42-year-old was full of optimism in his pre-match press conference ahead Rovers’ final match of the 2023/24 season. Taylor reflected on how operations behind the scenes have come along in his first five months as Rovers gaffer. “I think it is as best as it possibly could be. Going from having nothing previously up until the end of January or the start February, where obviously these ideas were getting spoke about, but it was still in its infancy. It will need time and it will need experience of a few windows to be fully functional and it will also need to grow as well. In terms of a scouting network and people working alongside and under George Friend. How the club works within and to help him as well, so it's exciting for the football club. But, a manager lives in a short-term world and we will be getting judged in the first game of the season in terms of who we bring in, but then obviously in terms of the way the future of the club is I think we are in a stronger position than we have been previously.”

There is no doubt that it has been a tough for the former Rotherham United manager since his arrival to the Gas and the 42-year-old was asked how it has shaped him. “It strengthens your mind that you don't want to be leading an organisation or a club or managing a team with as many situations as we've had. It’s almost been a perfect storm in terms of what's happened and how it's all come, but that doesn't hide away from the fact that we've not won enough games of football and we still should have won more games and picked up more points. I'm sure there will be more control on and off the pitch next season and that's what you strive for as a manager. There has been so many surprises and so many things come to your desk on a daily basis, let alone on a weekly one, which has just made it a little bit more difficult then what you probably expected.”

The Lancastrian was asked what his transfer window shopping list could look like this summer. “There is wants and there are needs. Every manager’s wants can never be met because it would mean you would have the biggest budget in the league and you could obtain any player you want in each and every position and play the style and system you really want to play. But then there is what you need and where we can introduce new players to this football club, but new players who are going to give us a competitive chance next season in terms of what's going to be an incredible league to be part of. Financially such a stronger league than this season with what has come up and what has come down as well. Obviously with Wigan as an example, the Wigans, the Readings, the Charlton’s of the world, they will probably be stronger than they were this time, so an opportunity, a fantastic challenge and we want the right people moving forward in relationship to that.

“We have done that from day one, that is a manager’s remit in terms of what he wants, to become a balanced squad, but it's what is obtainable an we are in a position where there is going to be quite a big turnover. I have said publicly it is probably too big a turnover to stop you having sleepless nights. It's just a circumstance of the six loans and then eight players out of contract and the way it is all moving towards, but that is a big amount of players to refill and to refill those players of a certain calibre and a certain quality, then obviously finance comes into it.”