Bristol Rovers have been plunged into a dilemma after on-loan goal-keeper Fraser Forster left to join Norwich City.

Despite frantic last minute negotiations to try to keep the promising 21-year-old, Rovers manager, Paul Trollope, had to accept defeat.

It now means that the only recognised keeper at the club is Rhys Evans and Trollope and director of football Lennie Lawrence are re-doubling their efforts to sign another shot-stopper before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

As a contingency, central defender Steve Elliott would deputise between the sticks should Evans suffer an injury during Saturday’s game at Wycombe Wanderers.

Trollope said: “Fraser has gone on loan to Norwich and we were in lengthy negotiations through Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning but unfortunately we couldn’t come to a financial agreement with Newcastle United as to how much of his wages we were prepared to pay.

“Norwich came in at the last minute and were prepared to pay more of his wages and so Fraser has gone on loan there.

“We are disappointed because Lennie and I wanted him in the building.

“The player himself wanted to come back and was very keen to extend his stay and I know that the players were keen to have him between the sticks.

“But it wasn’t to be and we wish him well and thank him for his efforts over the month he was with us where he played very well for us.

“I’m sure that he has great career in front of him because the signs are he is a very good keeper.

“We move and it gives Rhys Evans another opportunity after doing OK against Cardiff in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

“Rhys is a capable keeper in his own right.

“We are obviously a little bit short in that position but we are confident in Rhys in that position.

“We knew that Fraser’s loan was only for a month and although we wanted to keep him it does mean that there is a real opportunity now for Rhys.

“We are looking carefully at the situation and with Steve Phillips at Shrewsbury on loan for a month we are very much in the market. We need to strengthen that position. We thought that until the last minute that Fraser would be re-joining us and the early negotiations coming from Newcastle were that that was going to be the case and we were confident of extending it to January or the end of the season.

“But it wasn’t to be and we are back in the market. We would like to do something by early next week if we can.

“We have a number of players who can do a stint in goal but it is not an ideal situation. With seven substitutes most teams have a goalkeeper every game but there have been plenty of times in previous seasons when there were only five subs and we went without a goalkeeper.

“So it is not a new scenario to us. You touch wood and hope that nothing happens to him but we will certainly be ready if anything does.

“Steve Elliott came to Rovers with a track record of going between the sticks. He is capable - not ideal by any means - but that’s the contingency. He is a big lad to beat.”

Trollope added that they had identified a number of potential targets but with the transfer window still open until next Tuesday some players were asking too much.

Trollope said: “We are active in the market and have identified some good quality players who will improve us but getting deals done is never very easy.

“We don’t want to rush into things and they end up not right for us.

“We appreciate the need to add to the squad, we know we have started the season well and we want to continue in the same vein and we know that we can do that by strengthening the squad - whether that is before Tuesday only time will tell.

“But certainly when the emergency loan window opens up a week after the deadline we will still be in the market.”

Midfielder David Pipe sat out Friday’s training session suffering from a dead-leg and is doubtful for the trip to Wycombe.

But Aaron Lescott’s injury has improved and he will be available as well as central defender Danny Coles.