Bristol Rovers boss Trollope is anxiously waiting for deadline day

Paul Trollope says he will be a relieved man when the January transfer window closes at 5pm on Monday.

For the Bristol Rovers boss is increasingly confident he can plan for the rest of the season with goal machine Rickie Lambert still on board – and that the wave of speculation over the striker's immediate future will now die down.

The Pirates were only ever likely to enter the market themselves this month if they lost their leading scorer, who is looking to build on his 20-goal tally for the season at Southend United today.

But despite the national press linking the Scouser with an array of clubs including Bolton, Coventry, Sheffield United and Huddersfield, there has been no approach from anyone so far.

Trollope, who admits he is not a fan of the transfer window, hopes it stays that way over the final hours and will be happy to hear it slammed shut.

"For lower division teams – and a lot of Premier League teams as well – the old system where it was open right through the year was more beneficial," said Trollope.

"The current window brings a lot of pressure within a certain time-frame, although the fact you can make emergency loans outside that does ease things a little bit.

"It's a situation that's far from ideal, although one we have to deal with. If you do want to bolster and have money available to bring people in, you face a race against time to do it.

"From our viewpoint this year, we have nothing to report – and I'm looking forward to Tuesday. I'll be pleased when it comes."

Trollope's dislike of the transfer is shared by many at the top level of game, and there have been rumours that the Premier League could consider closing it for good.