BRISTOL ROVERS have largely been a comfortable League One side since their dramatic 7-0 promotion to the third tier in 2021/22.
However, under new Kuwait ownership, the club has fallen backwards and are now on the brink of relegation back to League Two.
In the summer of 2023, previous owner Wael Al Qadi sold 55% stake ownership to new owners Hussain AlSaeed. They came in with ambition and promises, but have since failed to deliver.
At the end of the summer transfer window, the Gas were in the market for a striker and Rovers were heavily linked with Peterborough’s two-time League One golden boot winner Jonson Clarke-Harris, who had previously played in blue and white quarters.
It came to deadline day where a rumoured transfer fee of £900k was agreed between the two clubs, which would smash Rovers’ previous transfer record of £300k. Personal terms were agreed with the player, however, the transfer strangely broke down, and wasn’t done in time for the deadline.
Former Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton, who was later sacked by the AlSaeed in October, claimed the owners “purposely f****ed the deal up” and “fled the country”.
After Barton was sacked, a long process of searching for a manager took place, and Matt Taylor was appointed early December.
However, a poor run of form saw him sacked the following season in December, a year after he took charge. Following his dismissal he said: “I spent over a year at the club, but I never once felt in control—on the pitch or off it.
Barton has also echoed these comments, with many Rovers fans murmuring that the owners are picking the team. Former Brighton under 18s coach Inigo Calderon has since taken over, but has seemingly failed to fix what has been a poor season.
As a result, Rovers sit in 21st place with their inferior goal difference keeping them in the bottom four, with Burton sitting in 20th.
The Gas have two matches left to decide their fate, a vital home match against playoff chasing Reading, and an away trip to the seaside to face Blackpool on the final day.
Cody Deadman and I travelled to the Memorial Stadium to get more insight on the clubs situation. We spoke to Bristol Live journalist and Rovers reporter Dan Hargreaves, as well a fans’ opinion on the new owners.
