Bristol Rovers recently allowed goalkeeper Jed Ward to depart for National League side Forest Green Rovers and it appears as though the chance to sign a replacement has been turned down.
Ward will spend the 2024/25 season with Forest Green, hoping to lift the football club back into the EFL following back-to-back relegations, but the transfer has left Bristol Rovers short of options between the sticks and are one injury away from a major cause for concern.
Aside from having West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Josh Griffiths on loan, Rovers’ only other option is 21-year-old Matt Hall who is yet to make his senior debut.
Bristol Rovers turned down Harris
According to journalist Jon Palmer, Bristol Rovers have turned down the opportunity to sign Cheltenham Town goalkeeper Max Harris, further leaving the League One side short of options in goal.
Harris had undergone a trial period with the football club, but Rovers have rejected the opportunity to complete a permanent transfer for the shot-stopper, leaving him to return to the League Two side.
Who is Max Harris?
The 24-year-old has experienced a series of Non-League loan spells with the likes of Bath City and Weston Super Mare in the National League South as well as making four appearances in the EFL Trophy.
Harris made one appearance during Cheltenham’s 2020/21 League Two title triumph and would have been a more experienced option than existing shot-stopper Matt Hall.
What does this mean for Rovers?
Ultimately, this could mean two different things for Bristol Rovers moving forward. The first option is that the League One side have enough faith in Hall to keep him as a backup option to Griffiths.
Secondly, it could be a case of Rovers finding an alternative option to Harris, causing them to turn down the Cheltenham goalkeeper to secure a move for another name.
Bristol Rovers will be aiming to make it back-to-back league wins against Rotherham United this weekend, following their 1-0 victory against Northampton Town last weekend, though an EFL Cup exit against Championship side Cardiff City will also be fresh in their minds.