Now that the 2005/6 season has drawn to a close for all but the play-off clubs it's time to dust off gasheads.com's legendary Summer Moves feature. Lennie and Paul will finally get the chance to say goodbye to some - though not all - of their predecessor's signings and to scour the country, and probably some of the more obscure world cup nations, for new talent and the odd journeyman, without whom no Fourth Division Side would be complete.

Below we've put togther a list of the 2005/6 squad (as at the end of the season) on the left, while on the right we'll be building up the new squad for 2006/7, starting with those players that are still under contract. Where possible, we've linked players to stories about their future. And below that, we've got all the news and rumours that are flying about with links to stories where possible. Oh, and if you have any gossip for us, or if you think we've got something completely wrong, then email us at: editorial@gasheads.com.

News, rumours and transfer gossip

28th June 2006

New Derby boss Billy Davies has denied making enquiries about Junior Agogo despite recognising the striker's "goalscoring potential", according to an independent Derby site. Agogo also makes it into the nationals with The Mirror picking up on the £250,000 clause in his contract.

27th June 2006

The Western Daily Press reveals that the trigger within Agogo's contract is a bid of £250,000 or above. The paper claims that Northampton Town are showing an interest in the striker, in addition to that already shown from Preston North End and Southend United.

26th June 2006

The Evening Post carries news of two potential offers for Junior Agogo, from Southend United and Preston North End. Confusion reigns though: The Post says that no bids have been tabled but that Agogo's hard-working and very active agent claims that a fee has been agreed between Rovers and one of the two. In addition to that, it seems that Agogo is allowed to talk to clubs if they offer over a certain amount - although what that amount is remains unknown. Not surprisingly Junior Mendes is talked of as a possible replacement, albeit a rather older, less prolific one.

An independent Sheffield Wednesday site, speculates about a return to the club for Agogo, who started his career at Hillsborough. It's not the first time the Owls have been mentioned as a potential suitor of the striker's but given that the story is based on little more than Junior's agent saying he'll be moving to a Championship side and Paul Sturrock saying he wants to sign a couple more players it's nothing more than idle speculation.

24th June 2006

Things had been so quiet that the gasheads.com Summer Moves team had been about to pack our bags and nip off for a mid-summer break, especially after we heard that the budget has been spent already. Then came news of a possible target, Junior Mendes. Now we fully expected that the only Junior to be mentioned here would be Agogo, and that we'd be saying our goodbyes to him as he went off to pastures new but, it seems we were wrong. The BBC tells us that Notts County are keen to sign the former Mansfield Town striker, who was recently released by Huddersfield, but face competition from Rovers and Yeovil. Could we be the first team (probably) ever to have a strike force of Junior and Junior? Well, we doubt it as we fully expect one to be leaving and we have no money to sign the other (until, perhaps, the first Junior departs). On the other hand, who knows, Uncle Geoff could decide to splash the cash to win back some support and hand Mendes a 3 year contract on £3k a week. We wait and see...

Meanwhile, The Evening Post reports that the club hope to agree terms with Craig Hinton in the next few days and to finalise a deal to keep Craig Disley with the club for two years, rather than the one he was entitled to in that clause in his contract that no-one had remembered existed (see this link). Further talks are also planned with Ali Gibb, who it is believed had a similar deal to Disley. Gibb thinks that he too is entitled to another year but the Post says that "there is a dispute over interpretation" which we'd guess means that one side think sub appearances count and the other doesn't. Disley's trigger for a new contract was 25 appearances and if Gibb's was the same then this theory makes sense as he started 24 games but made several appearances as a sub too.

22nd June 2006

Self-confessed Gashead Andy Johnson moved on from West Brom today but, instead of heading to Bristol, he made a short trip to the East Midlands and the Walker Stadium. The Official Leicester Site reports his signing along with the capture of another familiar face: Josh Low. Yep, that kid who got untold (and, as far as we're concerned wholly unwarrented) stick from the terraces for not being good enough is heading for the Championship; we think it's fair to say that the last laugh is well and truly on him.

20th June 2006

A combination of the World Cup and the boardroom chaos at Rovers seems to have stalled all the transfer activity, with not even a whisper of a transfer for what seems like an age. One target who is no longer available though is Steve Mildenhall, who has joined his old boss Russell Slade at Yeovil on a two year deal. The BBC reports that the 'keeper did talk to Rovers but Slade's move to the Somerset club swung his decision.

9th June 2006

The Grimsby Telegraph reports Russell Slade's interest in Steve Mildenhall. The paper also says that Swindon have dismissed reports linking them with the 'keeper and mentions Rovers and Shrewsbury as rivals for his signature.

8th June 2006

Rovers target Jo Kuffour has agreed a one year contract extension at Torquay according to The Sporting Life website.

The Evening Post carries an interview with trainee keeper Mike Green who reveals that, like Tom Parranello and James Palmer, he is a long-standing Gashead. Also in the Post is a piece on new Yeovil Town boss Russell Slade's interest in reported Rovers target Steve Mildenhall. The keeper may be keen on the Yeovil move if he fancies linking up with his old boss at Grimsby.

6th June 2006

The Western Daily Press reports that Steve Book has failed to agree a contract extension with Rovers, leaving the club without a senior reserve keeper or a goalkeeping coach.

5th June 2006

The Evening Post reports on two more of the youngsters who signed last week. James Palmer has followed in his father's footsteps - his dad played for Rovers four times - and models himself on his idol, Ian Holloway. Tom Parrinello, who netted a two year deal, is another Rovers fan who says his role model is Ashley Cole.

2nd June 2006

The Western Daily Press carries a story about new trainee Sean Rigg, who was wanted by Bristol City, as well as Rovers, two years ago. The youngster, who plays on the left of midfield or up front, whose Rovers as he saw more of a chance of progressing quickly.

1st June 2006

Ryan Green talks to the Official Site and waxes lyrical about his new employers: "This club shouldn't be in League Two, it should be in at least League One or maybe even the Championship. I had other options once I decided to leave Hereford, but this was by far the best choice for me."

The Evening Post also carries the Green story and reveals the right-back's ambition to play for Wales again.

Aaron Lescott has accepted his new one year deal reports the Official Site. Also signing on the dotted line are the five youngsters offered deals last week. Paul Trollope tells the Official Site that he hopes Sean Rigg, Lewis Powell, Mike Green, James Palmer and Tom Parrinello play a big part in the club's future.

31st May 2006

The Western Daily Press reports that Lennie Lawrence is hopeful of tying up deals for Aaron Lescott, Craig Hinton and goalkeeping coach Steve Book in the next few days. There's bad/good (delete depending on your point of view) news too though: rumoured target Kevin Gall has opted to join Carlisle United instead of Rovers.

Later in the day there's some positive news for Lennie as Ryan Green's signing is announced on the Official Site. Full-back Green looks like he'll be vying with Lewis Haldane for the "tango man" award for the most (artificially) tanned player at the club. He joins from Hereford after spells at Wolves, Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday and hit the headlines when he became Wales' youngest ever full international aged seventeen. That record has since been broken but Green, now 25, played alongside Paul Trollope for Wales (he also had a loan spell at Cardiff under Lennie Lawrence) and the Rovers' manager is full of praise for his new recruit in another piece on the Official Site: "We've got a player who's got a lot of ability and pace, and plenty of aggression in his play.

"He is a defender first and foremost, which is what we wanted, but he has good quality on the ball, he can get forward, is a good athlete, and can play right-back, right wing-back, right midfield and even on the right side of centre defence."

30th May 2006

The Official Site reports that five of the Filton College youngsters have been offered professional contracts: Sean Rigg, Lewis Powell, Mike Green and James Palmer have all completed two years at the College.All four played for the reserves last season and have been offered year long deals. Additionally, Tom Parrinello, a very promising student who has only completed his first year, has been offered a two year deal.

29th May 2006

The Evening Post reckons that Grimsby's play-off loss to Cheltenham could be good news for Rovers as it could mean out of contract 'keeper Steve Mildenhall leaving the club for the Gas. Rovers watched him in the game but it seems there could eb competition for his signature. Watch this space.

25th May 2006

The Ryan Green rumour makes it national with a short piece stating Rovers' interest in The Mirror. The tabloid claims that Wolves and Millwall are two of the other clubs interested in the defender, although these are also both former clubs fo Green's so it's possible they could be confused.

The Western Daily Press carries the comforting news that former loan player Sammy Igoe has had little interest since being released by Millwall and so has contacted the club about the possibility of a return: surely couldn't be that he thinks we're the type of mugs who will pay the wages he wants?

The Evening Post says that Ali Gibb is keen to sort out his future and that he wants to stay at the club. Gibb believes that a clause in his contract, similar to the one which Craig Disley had but no one remembered about, means that he is entitled to another year. He's on holiday at the moment (though clearly contactable as the Post has spoken to him) but hoping for a call from Lennie at the end of the month.

24th May 2006

The Western Daily Press says that Rovers have stepped up their interest in Ryan Green of Hereford and hope to have talks with the right-back this week. Green scored the Bulls' extra-tme winner in the Conference play-off last weekend, which may have increased interest from other clubs but the paper says that Rovers are "quietly confident" of landing the youngest-ever Welsh international. Goalkeeping is also in the news at the WDP, with Steve Mildenhall of Grimsby the latest to be linked with Rovers. The Grimsby Telegraph later picks up the Mildenhall story, and says that the 'keeper, who was first choice at Grimsby last season, is out of contract and yet to agree a new deal.

Moving swiftly upfield, according to another Western Daily Press article, Lincoln City have become the first club to publically declare an interest in ex-Gas striker and rumoured current target Kevin Gall; we are naturally wondering whether Gall has been on a rack recently as with Lamie Forrester also in the squad the Imps must already have used up their quota of under-six-footers for next season. The News and Star in Carlisle speculates that up to ten clubs may be interested in signing Gall this summer.


23rd May 2006

The latest player to be linked to Rovers is Torquay striker Jo Kuffour. According to the Evening Post the 24 year old frontman's future is in doubt at Plainmoor - despite his being offered a new deal recently - after the arrival of ex-Gas duo Mickey Evans and Lee Thorpe. Whether this speculation is true, however, remains to be seen and you have to fear for a striker that isn't going to be able to challenge two of the least productive strikers of recent years at Rovers. Kuffour scored nine times last season - almost half of which came in the late survival bid - but overall his scoring ratio is, worryingly, only slightly better than Evans' and rather worse than Thorpe's. In the past week the club has been linked with a number of strikers including Kevin Gall and Stuart Fleetwood - although the Post claims today that interest in Fleetwood is cooling and that the competition for Gall may rule out a bid - plus there has been speculation about a return for Jamie Cureton. Whether Lawrence and Trollope are lining up replacements for one or both of the current front two or whether it is cover we're looking for isn't clear just yet but strikers, it seems, are very much on the Gas shopping list.

The Post also speculates that Ben Davies' transfer to Chester could lead to renewed interest in Andy Johnson of West Brom. The last we heard about him (here) was that he could yet be offered a one-year deal with the Baggies and the biggest stumbling block to his potential transfer would undoubtedly be wages but his Bristolian background means that nothing should be ruled out just yet.

22nd May 2006

Hidden at the bottom of an article on the 'Boardroom rift' at Rovers in the Evening Post, are a couple of lines about apparent Rovers' target Ben Davies joining Shrewsbury from Chester City. The midfielder was a 'major summer target' according to the Post, who had already held talks with Rovers and was also linked to Northampton Town and Bristol City.

20th May 2006

Hereford United's promotion to the Football League must surely cast some doubt on Rovers' ability to attract the two Bulls' players the club was linked with only a day ago and we imagine that the liklihood of either signing coming about will become more apparent in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the local press, including The Evening Post links Rovers with recently released Cardiff City centre-back Byron Anthony, who is another player that worked under Lawrence at Cardiff City: we're starting to see a trend in Lennie's scouting here. The 21 year old would join Ollie Barnes as the second central defender to join Rovers this summer and could be the unnamed player the club was said to be pursuing earlier this week. The same article mentions Sammy Igoe's release from Millwall.

19th May 2006

The Western Daily Press is the first of the local papers to report Rovers' apparent interest in two out of contract Hereford United players Ryan Green and Stuart Fleetwood. Green, 25, is a right-back who started his career at Wolves and has turned out for the Welsh national side while 20 year old Fleetwood is a striker. There's no official word from Rovers yet - though we imagine most people at the club have been pre-occupied with the boardroom battles that are rumoured to be going on - but both fit in with the type of player, youngish and currently non-league, that Rovers seem to be looking at increasingly. Fleetwood also has links with Lennie Lawrence, having started his career at Cardiff City when Rovers' director of football was in charge at Ninian Park. Green too had a short loan spell at Cardiff City under Lawrence, although he made only one appearance during that time.

18th May 2006

The Evening Post reports that Rovers are interested in re-signing former Gas striker Kevin Gall and have already held talks with him. The 24 year old spent two years at Rovers before joining Yeovil and told the post that he is happy to return as it was former manager Ray Graydon that he had problems with, not the club or the fans. Competition for Gall, recently released by the Glovers, is likely to be fierce though with a host of clubs reported as being interested in him or having already held talks including: Carlisle, Grimsby and Cheltenham Town are said to be interested according to the Post while his agent has apparently spoken to Swindon, Darlington, Leyton Orient, Northampton and Southend too. Both Doncaster Rovers and Huddersfield Town were interested in Gall back in January and could also still be interested in him.

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that firmer Rovers' loanee, Sammy Igoe, has been released by Millwall. We expect both Rovers and Swindon to be linked with him in the next few days.

17th May 2006

Ryan Clarke, who was on holiday when the axe was swinging last week returned, albeit briefly. No sooner had he arrived than the axe turned on him with the dreaded words: "You're released". The news is confirmed on the Official Site while the Evening Post interviews the 'massively disappointed' young keeper. Clarke's departure leaves only the Gibb situation to be resolved, along with the contracts that are yet to be accepted by Lescott and Hinton.

16th May 2006

Lennie Lawrence tells the Evening Post that Rovers have signed former Bristol City academy player Ollie Barnes on a professional contract. The nineteen year old centre-half was released by City's Academy at the end of last season and has been snapped up by Rovers as soon as his scholarship ended. With John Anderson and Christian Edwards released, Rovers had wanted to strengthen the squad with centre-halves and are also pursuing another, as yet unnamed player, in this position. The news is later confirmed on the Official Site which is at pains to point out that 'nothing new' has been signed this week despite reports in the press: that's telling you then Evening Post!

15th May 2006

The Official Site confirms that Andy Sandell has passed his medical and signed for two years; we profile him here. Earlier in the day Bath City boss John Relish had told the Evening Post that he believed that Sandell would flourish under Paul Trollope and that he was confident the youngster has the ability to make it in the professional game. A small fee is involved for the transfer but it has not been disclosed. While Sandell may not be a big name, it is encouraging that Trollope and Lawrence are carrying out their promise of looking for local players - something we haven't seen at Rovers for some time - and we await to see whether the second part of the recruitment plan, that of experienced, quality players, comes to fruition.

12th May 2006

Andy Johnson, rumoured Rovers target, self-confessed Gashead and former schoolmate of gashead.com's Edward Teach, could yet be staying at West Brom, according to The Birmingham Post. Johnson was linked with Rovers back in January and has been expected to leave West Brom this summer and his local roots have stirred the rumour-mill, even if his agent seems to be pushing for a bigger club - and deal. The Birmingham Post says that any deal at West Brom would be on reduced terms but, even so, that would presumably be more than he could expect at the Mem.

In typically farcical Rovers mode it appears that Craig Disley will be staying at Rovers not because he has signed the new deal offered to him a few days ago (link here) but because it turns out that he had a rolling contract whereby the extension was triggered by his making 25 starts. This fact, according to the The Evening Post, which broke the story, was seemingly unknown to everyone, including Disley himself until he was told about it by Lennie Lawrence yesterday. With the ongoing Gibb saga as well - he is rumoured to have a similar deal and is in continuing negotiations with Rovers - contractual messes at Rovers are coming hard and fast at the moment and clearly this is an area where huge improvement is necessary: if it isn't inflated wages and long contracts then it is deals like this which apparently haven't even been properly communicated to the parties involved. Ever get the feeling that, once signed, the contracts are held in a cardboard box under someone's desk and forgotten about?

11th May 2006

The BBC reports Paul Trollope as saying that Steve Phillips will not be joining Rovers, well, not yet at any rate. The denial is hardly the strongest though with Trollope commenting: "It's been linked for a while because he's in the city but we feel Scott Shearer finished the season quite well. Things do happen in football but at the moment that's just paper talk." The rumours about Phillips have ben circulating for some time though - and quite possibly for a better reason that simply his being in town - and we wouldn't be surprised if he does turn up in BS7, especially now that his mate Mr Wilson has departed Franchise HQ.

Craig Hinton tells The Evening Post that he is confident of agreeing his contract extension with Rovers. Paul Trollope has given Hinton, Lescott and Disley two weeks to decide whether they want to accept or not and the defender will be looking over the detail of the contract - no doubt searching for one of those generous Gibb clauses - when he's away on holiday next week. Interestingly, the article also says that Hinton doesn't have an agent. The Post, along with the Bath Chronicle, says that Andy Sandell will put pen to paper next week providing he passes a medical on Monday.

9th May 2006

The day that half our players should have been dreading has arrived with Paul Trollope in the Alan Sugar role. Who'll be hearing the dreaded words "You're Fired" and who'll be sticking about for another season? Watch this space.

The Evening Post links Rovers with another move for Bristol City's transfer-listed keeper Steve Phillips. The stopper has reportedly been close to a move to Rovers in the past and if Phillips were to join then it would be no great surprise although the Post says that City want a five figure City for him. There's also interest from Phillips' former boss, Danny Wilson, at Franchise FC although a local move would surely be preferable for Phillips. The Post also casts doubt on the future of Rovers' out of contract keeper Ryan Clarke and trainee Martin Horsell, although Steve Book is expected to remain as goalkeeping coach. Of Rovers out of contract players, the Post expects a new deal for Craig Disley and departures for Anderson and Edwards with Bass, Hinton and Lescott also not certain of extentions. There's speculation too that Robbie Ryan could move on, despite having a year left on his contract. Finally, in line with terrace rumours on Saturday the Post says that Ali Gibb may have had a clause in his contract entitling him to an extention should he play a certain number of games. If this is true, and he has passed the required number of games, then Mr Dunford has surely taken his eye of the ball: in the past players rumoured to be nearing such a landmark have seemingly been frozen out of any squad.

Welsh website IcWales is the latest to link Rovers with transfer-listed Cardiff keeper Martyn Margetson. The 34 year old, who made two loan appearances for Rovers back in 1993, is also being linked with Swansea City. It is unlikely that both this and the Phillips rumours will be realised but it certainly looks likely that one experienced keeper could be joining Rovers sooner rather than later.

Near the end of D-day it is announced on the Official Site that four out of contract players have been released: John Anderson, Jon Bass, Christian Edwards and Martin Horsell. Three of those out of contract have been offered new deals: Craig Disley, Craig Hinton and Aaron Lescott. The final two, Ryan Clarke and Ali Gibb remain unresolved with Clarke on holiday and Gibb still discussing a contractual matter. Steve Book meanwhile has been offered the position of full-time goalkeeping coach. No huge surprises there, although three offers of new deals is more than was expected in some quarters. The Gibb situation fits in with the Terrace and Evening Post stories and is one that may end up in another pay-off.

The Official Site also confirmed that winger Andy Sandell of Bath City is in talks with Rovers and is likely to sign next week. gasheads.com will have more on this as news becomes available.

News Index here

News Archive here