Manager Matt Taylor claims that Bristol Rovers are “playing catch up” in the January transfer window because the team hasn’t added any players yet.
Rovers lost 1-0 at home against Exeter on Tuesday, their fourth straight loss.
Taylor, who took office on December 1st, described it as “frustrating” that there weren’t more players added.
“We knew what we wanted in terms of positions the day we walked into the building,” he said to BBC Radio Bristol.
“We’re attempting to make up some ground. We’re responding to this market reactively because there’s nothing in place to look for and put those names on the table. This means it takes longer than you would like, and regrettably, time permits other clubs to get involved.
“That’s ultimately why we haven’t brought a player in this window, but we’re really trying as hard as we can.”
‘Weight round our ankles’
Taylor had anticipated that a new contract for forward Chris Martin, whose current one expires this week, would be finalised last week, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Martin, who had a virus and missed the game against Exeter, has scored ten goals since joining the team in September.
“As far as I was aware it was agreed and ready to be signed going into the weekend,” Taylor stated. “I think it will be done, but there will be some questions about why it hasn’t been done.
“With this group, as well as with the bodies, we need some assistance.
It seems reasonable to say that I’d like to do more. No Bristol Rovers supporter could dispute that there are positions on the pitch where we want to improve but are unable to do so.
“We must unite and take a stand. We must be heard. We’ve had a rather bad run lately. We have participated in every game, but we have also had to make up ground after being eliminated from every game early on.
Since Taylor took over, Rovers have won three of their nine league games and are currently in 13th place in League One, 15 points outside of the top six.
With Connor Taylor and Josh Grant sidelined due to injuries during the Exeter game, Taylor feels his “thin” squad is having an effect on performances. However, he is hopeful that Martin, George Friend, and James Wilson will be available for Saturday’s home match against Oxford United.
“We’re playing with weight round our ankles and our shoulders and you can see that – uncharacteristic errors, players who are capable of doing more, just the feel of the little run that we’re on at the moment and the pressure at home of having to chase a game,” he added.
“They’re the players we’ve got and they are weak at the moment, physically more than anything else.”
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