Bristol Rovers target more signings

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Saturday, July 11, 2009
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This is Bristol

Bristol Rovers chairman Nick Higgs says there is room for the club to add more new faces before the start of the season.

The Pirates this week made midfielder Dominic Blizzard their second signing of the summer on three-year deal, having earlier signed defender Carl Regan from MK Dons.

Paul Trollope has already outlined his desire to add one or two more new faces before the opener against Leyton Orient on August 8 and Higgs says the board will back the coach and director of football Lennie Lawrence as they continue to strengthen.

"I hope Dominic won't be the last signing before the start of the season and we have got a couple of other irons in the fire," said Higgs.

"We trust Paul and Lennie's judgement on players and when they identify ones that they think will improve us, then we as a board will back them."

Lawrence revealed in the Evening Post earlier in the summer that Rovers will be looking to bring in a keeper – they spent the final three months of last season with Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton on loan from Stoke City – and they have already been linked with interest in a winger, targeting Matt Done of Hereford United.

Higgs believes the recent signings are the fruition of plans that were originally hatched four months ago.

"We showed last year we have a good squad that can play football, and I sat down with Paul and Lennie in March to find out what we needed to push on and build a squad capable of challenging for the Championship," said Higgs.

"That is where we want to be quickly and we identified three or four key positions where we needed to strengthen. We are looking to add quality now and in Dominic and Carl we have managed to do that.

"We want to build things bit by bit because Rome wasn't built in a day. Everyone wants immediate success but that is unrealistic – even if you have a lot of money to try and achieve it.

"We moved on leaps and bounds last season and were not outplayed by any teams in League One. We had the odd blip of course, but in general we played some really good football and were complimented on that by visiting teams.

"The improvements to the pitch at the Memorial Stadium helped us to play some nice stuff and that suits Lennie and Paul's philosophy on how they want the game to be played."

Rovers host their annual fun day at the Memorial Stadium tomorrow (12 noon-4pm).

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    by nick carvallo, chippenham

    Sunday, July 19 2009, 9:14PM

    “insider, thanks for the tip off, very excited about your rumours! Just one problem with Lamps coming to the Mem, can you play him in the same team as Chris Lines!!??”

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    by MisterX, Bristle

    Sunday, July 12 2009, 2:34PM

    “Re: Mike Green - Gotta feel sorry for the bloke to be fair, there have been countless times over the last few seasons when Trolls could have given him a game, JPT, end of season, etc, etc. Now the old rumour keeps coming to mind about Steve Phillips contract which is alleged to declare that so long as Phillips is fit he starts each and every game in the first team ..... bearing in mind all the factors you make your own minds up on that one.

    Winger? Too right! (Just wish Pipey could play on both sides at once!) What was Jeff Hughes bought for anyway? He's not a winger, he's not great on the outside of midfield either as he comes inside *all* the darn time in attacking situations exactly when we need a wide man to put a decent cross in for our strikers. He's just looked far too lethargic for all he's done (or not done rather) and if he wanted to go on a long extended holiday I just wish his agent had worked out how far Bristol was from the South coast, surely Brighton or Bournemouth would have been better for him with their beaches if he just wanted to laze about on weekends? :-)”

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    by John, United Kingdom

    Saturday, July 11 2009, 10:21PM

    “We have a new centre half in Danny Coles. He's in full training so hopefully he'll be fine! i agree a winger would be good - maybe one of the youngsters can fit the bill! G/K to challenge SP is my wish!”

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    by Andy, Bristol

    Saturday, July 11 2009, 4:44PM

    “I agree, I think a new keeper would ne nice but would down the list behind another centre half and winger”

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    by Derek, Bradely Stoke

    Saturday, July 11 2009, 1:05PM

    “Warren F/C, Good point, however, if Mike's not tried we will never know! I'm sure given his chance he will take it and be a big hit with the fans.”

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