Bristol Rovers are on the brink of agreeing a new deal with defender Byron Anthony.

The club are at an advanced stage of discussions with the 25-year-old Welshman over a contract which would keep him at the Memorial Stadium for the rest of the season, and the following two years.

"We have almost reached agreement with Byron – there are just one or two fine points which are holding things up," said the Pirates' director of football Lennie Lawrence.

"But we are confident we will be able to conclude things satisfactorily."

Centre-back Anthony joined Rovers from Cardiff City in the summer of 2006 and has made 93 league appearances for the club, 20 of them coming in the current campaign having spent the majority of it as first-choice partner to Danny Coles.

"I have known Byron since he was a youngster at Cardiff and we feel he has progressed during his time with us," added Lawrence.

There has also been speculation linking Bristol Rovers with a renewed attempt to land Colchester United central defender Pat Baldwin, who turned down the chance of a permanent move to the club earlier this month following an initial loan spell.

But the Post understand fresh moves to lure the 27-year-old have faltered, and he is likely to remain with the Essex club.

The Pirates are unlikely to follow up their interest in former Derry City midfielder Barry Molloy after he featured for the reserve side in their 3-0 victory over Cheltenham Town yesterday.

Charlie Clough volleyed the visitors ahead after 19 minutes, when Charlie Reece's free-kick rebounded off the Robins' defensive wall.

Ben Swallow swept home the second goal just before the break, from Ollie Clarke's cross – and the same combination were involved in the final goal early in the second half.

Cheltenham keeper Will Puddy spilled Clarke's low cross, and Swallow pounced to score from close range.

Winger Reece, who came off the bench in Rovers' 2-0 win over Hartlepool last weekend, is likely to be ruled out of Saturday's home game against Wycombe after tweaking a hamstring just before half-time in yesterday's outing.

Bristol Rovers' away game at Leyton Orient has been rearranged for a third time.

It had been shifted from Tuesday, February 2 to the following night because Bristol City were scheduled to be in action at Crystal Palace and police were unhappy with the prospect of both sets of supporters travelling to the capital on the same evening.

But with Palace now hosting an FA Cup replay against Wolves, Rovers' trip to Brisbane Road has reverted to the Tuesday.