The players Joey Barton could reunite with as Bristol Rovers plan for League One

Sometimes it’s good to stick to what you know and that could be with former players or teammates

Bristol Rovers have begun their preparations for life in League One next season by doing their first bit of business.

The Gas this week handed out professional deals to academy duo Jamie Egan and Harvey Greenslade.

It was the first step to assembling a squad that will be capable of competing in English football’s third tier after returning at the first time of asking.

There will be key decisions to be made on what members of the promotion winning side will remain and whether there will be much change to the squad with continuity important.

Issues such as sorting out the contracts of the likes of Antony Evans and Sam Nicholson need to be sorted, as well as exploring the possibility of extending the loans at the club.

Joey Barton has a strong recruitment team that has brought him his first bit of success in management, a first promotion.

Finding bargain buys such as Antony Evans who came on a free transfer, as well as successful loans with Elliot Anderson, James Connolly and Connor Taylor, it’s been more hit than miss in the transfer market.

There has also been some success to just working with what you know and reuniting players you’ve had at other clubs.

Barton had previously worked with Glenn Whelan, Paul Coutts, Sam Finley and Harvey Saunders at Fleetwood Town.

Coutts and Finley ended up being vital to the promotion bid, whilst Whelan and Saunders also played their part when called upon.

In a career where he’s played for Queens Park Rangers, Burnley and Newcastle United, there are bound to be

Below are some players that either worked under Joey Barton or played alongside him that could be considered as potential signings.

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