Rossiter moving on?

Exclusive: Former Liverpool midfielder set to leave Bristol Rovers as contract draws to a close
Jordan Rossiter made his return to playing football after 16 months out at the end of last season and was offered a new contract to stay on at Bristol Rovers

Jordan Rossiter is expected to leave Bristol Rovers when his agreement expires at the end of the month, Bristol Live understands, having been one of three out of contract players offered a new deal.

Rossiter was understood to be assessing his options before committing his future to the Gas as the 27-year-old is subject to interest from clubs in League One and League Two and with his deal expiring at the end of the month, the midfielder is expected to seek a new challenge.

That means that at least 14 players will have left the Gas going into pre-season with a decision still yet to be made by defender Luca Hoole, although it is understood that there is growing confidence that the academy product will stay on at the club having also been offered a new deal. Additionally, Scott Sinclair is expected to sign the contract offered to him. Rovers saw six loan players return to their parent clubs at the end of last season while seven were released.

Rossiter's two-year spell in BS7 will, unfortunately, be overshadowed by the amount of time the former Liverpool prospect spent on the sidelines. The midfielder was often outstanding whenever he pulled on a Gas shirt but his appearance tally for the club stands at just 25 over two seasons with just four of those coming last term.

It wasn't entirely clear whether Gasheads would get to see the 27-year-old in action before the end of the campaign with serious complications following what was supposed to be a routine knee surgery in December 2022 ended up keeping the midfielder out for 16 months.

What Rossiter himself revealed to be a "one in 10,000 chance" in April, the 27-year-old picked up a rare infection during surgery which was supposed to get him back playing within around six weeks. Seeing him back on the pitch for the final four games of the season was a relief for everyone involved with Rovers and he certainly demonstrated what Matt Taylor's side had been missing during a poor run of form, providing an infection endeavour and desire to win the ball back and battle for his teammates.
However, the Scouser is expected to move on from the Gas, likely heading closer to home with Rovers the first southern-based club Rossiter had played for with Rangers, Fleetwood Town and Bury also on the CV alongside Liverpool.

Despite being a boyhood Evertonian, Rossiter came through the youth ranks in the red side of Merseyside, breaking onto the scene with a goal on his first-team debut against Middlesbrough as a 17-year-old. The midfielder went on to make a total of five senior appearances for the Reds, three of which coming in the Europa League as well as an appearance as a substitute away at Arsenal in the Premier League.

Rossiter then moved on to Rangers on a free transfer in the summer of 2016 but his spell in Glasgow was blighted by injuries with his four-year stay culminating in just 16 appearances and loan spells at Bury and Fleetwood Town.

The decision reinforces the fact that a busy transfer window is necessary for the Gas who now appear to have lost 14 players which could rise further over the course of the summer.

Rovers currently have new signing Isaac Hutchinson as well as Kamil Conteh, Luke McCormick, Grant Ward and Antony Evans as their central midfielder options along with youngsters Jerry Lawrence and Kofi Shaw with pre-season expected to start next Monday. Meanwhile, the Gas' latest arrival Clinton Mola can play in defensive midfield despite predominantly being a left-back.

He played in so few games for us I didn't know who he was when warming up on his return, the club stood by him for over 18 months and now looks as if he's off, not happy, would have been nice if he stayed even just a season to give something back to the club, but we move on.
UTG

But what if we’d offered him just a fraction of his previous wage? Would he be expected to stay out of loyalty (which doesn’t apply in either direction in the football industry) even if it is to the detriment of his family? 

Almost certainly.

A wise move for all parties.

Pleased with this , unlucky with injuries , if we’re trimming down the wage bill then we need reliable players , unfortunately he’s not. Good luck elsewhere

Lucky he wasn’t a Wildebeest, otherwise he would have been eaten by Lions a long time ago. Shame though good player.

Gone off injured 🤔

If he signs for Stockport, it will be interesting to see the kind of reception he gets.

There is part of me that thinks he deserves a crunching tackle from one of our players to make up for the last couple of years taking our money and not adding value to our season.

Then there is a part of me that says, he aint worth it.

No hate from me.

Hope he gets a good club.