When to expect Bristol Rovers’ retained list and why not to expect transfers soon

Clubs across the Championship, League One and League Two are this week releasing their retained lists.

A retained list is the players you are keeping this season, mainly due to them being under contract for another year at the club.

It also includes what players have been offered new contracts with their deals due to expire this summer, as well as who hasn’t been offered new terms.

Released lists of players leaving can range from just a few leaving to a large chunk of the squad leaving, depending at what level you are and the contract situation.

When should Bristol Rovers release their retained list?

This week will be all about celebration for Bristol Rovers after securing promotion back to English football’s third tier.

A dramatic turn of events saw Joey Barton’s men at one point overturn an eight goal swing to win automatic promotion, where they pipped Northampton Town on goals scored.

But whilst there is reason to celebrate, there is also a need to ensure plans are put in place for next season.

There are ten days left for Bristol Rovers to submit their retained list to the EFL. All 72 clubs in the EFL have until the third Saturday of May, which falls on Saturday, May 21, to tell the league of who is staying and going.

Who is out of contract?

Club captain Paul Coutts has had a one-year extension triggered by the club after making a certain amount of appearances. That hasn’t been announced by the club but could be confirmed when they release their retained list.

Fellow midfielder Glenn Whelan is out of contract but Joey Barton is keen for the Republic of Ireland midfielder to stay.

Antony Evans is the player out of contract that will be in most demand to stay at the club. The 23-year-old scored two goals and got the match-winning assist that earned the club promotion.

He was taken on a one-year deal and he has thoroughly deserved a new deal but his performance this season could attract suitors from a higher division. Promotion to the third tier does strengthen Rovers’ negotiations though.

Sam Nicholson is another player out of contract. The Scotmsan started the season well and five goals along with four assists is respectable. The 27-year-old did find himself out of the starting line up towards the end of the campaign but it is unsure whether he’ll stay or not.

Trevor Clarke, who started against Scunthorpe is another player out of contract but the club have a one-year option to extend his stay.

Fringe first-team players like Leon Clarke, Cian Harries, Anssi Jaakkola, Junior Brown and Alex Rodman also need to know of their futures.

Returning loanee Ben Liddle’s contract is up, as is Cameron Hargreaves, Lucas Tomlinson and Kieran Phillips.

A player like Zain Westbrooke is contracted to the club until 2023 and whilst he may not be in the clubs plans, he can not be released unless there is a mutual agreement to terminate his contract.

From club chairman Wael al-Qadi’s comments, he believes that the squad will want to remain at the Mem next season.

What about the loan players?

Loanees such as Elliot Anderson, Luke Thomas, Sion Spence, James Connolly and Connor Taylor will all return to their parent clubs.

Out of all of them, only Connolly is out of contract with Cardiff City with his status at the Welsh club yet to be decided.

When will the EFL publish the official list of released players?

Clubs are already publishing their lists but things can change by the May 21 deadline with new contracts offered which players will mull over.

Plenty are widely available which allows teams to put together a free agent list as they plan their targets for the summer.

The EFL will release the list in the second week of January, which is Saturday, January 11.

Players are now free agents, should I expect any deals soon?

A change to EFL regulations means that any club announcing any signings now runs the risk of clubs coming in and scuppering what may seem a confirmed deal. This year the EFL will fall in line with the international transfer window, meaning that no new signing will be confirmed until the window opens on June 10.

Clubs can agree deals with players but that would only be regarded as a gentleman’s handshake and not a binding deal. This change in rules comes from FIFA, who instructed the FA to inform the EFL to follow the rest of what Europe was doing.

This was made aware by Portsmouth chief Andy Cullen, who said: “The big change of dynamic in terms of the way football operates in the EFL is the transfer window has become more rigid. ‘In the past you could sign a player from another club or a player who was out of contract, as soon as the season finished in the EFL.

‘With anyone new you want to register, you can have those discussions with the players if you’re looking at a transfer fee being paid and you can have those discussions with clubs.

‘But nothing can be signed, sealed and delivered until June 10.”

If a club is certain that a prospective new player will abide by the deal then they can announce him but he won’t become an official player until June 10 and even then, most contracts expire after June 30.