Bristol Rovers are preparing for life back in League Two following their relegation from League One.
After a decent start to life under Inigo Calderon following his arrival in December, Bristol Rovers looked destined to secure safety as they sat nine points clear of the relegation zone in mid-March.
However, the Gas were dragged back towards danger after a horror run of form that saw them pick up just one point from their final 10 games, and they were relegated to League Two with one game of the season remaining.
2024-25 League Two table
Team
P
GD
Pts
17
Mansfield Town
46
-13
54
18
Peterborough United
46
-13
51
19
Northampton Town
46
-18
51
20
Burton Albion
46
-17
47
21
Crawley Town (R)
46
-26
46
22
Bristol Rovers (R)
46
-32
43
23
Cambridge United (R)
46
-28
38
24
Shrewsbury Town (R)
46
-38
33
Despite expressing his desire to remain in charge next season, Rovers parted company with Calderon last month, replacing him with Darrell Clarke, who guided the club to back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One during his previous spell at the Memorial Stadium between 2014 and 2018.
Shaq Forde and Ruel Sotiriou tipped for Bristol Rovers exit
When asked which players he believes may push for an exit this summer, FLW’s Bristol Rovers fan pundit Ziggy Carter predicted that forwards Shaq Forde and Ruel Sotiriou could both leave the Memorial Stadium.
Forde joined the Gas from Watford last summer, but he scored just two goals and provided three assists in 34 appearances last season, while Sotiriou finished as the club’s top scorer in League One after netting six goals in 43 games following his move from Leyton Orient.
While Ziggy said that he is hopeful Forde could be an asset for Rovers in League Two next season, he admitted that the 21-year-old’s days at the club could be numbered due to the poor attitude he showed last term, while he claimed that Sotiriou may be keen to depart in order to cement his place in the Cyprus national team.
“I think there are two players whose situation with Rovers isn’t quite what they need,” Ziggy said.
“Shaq Forde at right-wing came in as the star signing and a proven League One player.
“He showed glimpses of that in League One, but towards the end, he barely got a game and only made a few substitute appearances.
“He just really wasn’t up to it, and his attitude stank, to be honest.
“It was so bad that I think a lot of Rovers fans gave up on him, but I’m still hoping there’s a player in there that we can use in League Two.
“Another one I’d say is Ruel Sotiriou.
“I think he will be looking for a summer exit because, if he wants to play for Cyprus, he needs to be playing at a higher level than League Two.
“I think towards the end of the season, he just about proved that he could still play in League One.
“I really want him to stay as I thought he was a quality player for us, but I think he might be driven by the fact that he didn’t get any game time when he was called up to the Cyprus national squad at the end of the season.
“I think if he joins a club higher up, he will believe that he will be able to get more international appearances.”
Bristol Rovers must do everything possible to retain Ruel Sotiriou this summer
Bristol Rovers supporters may be divided about whether Forde deserves another chance next season, but there will be no such doubts about the importance of keeping hold of Sotiriou.
Sotiriou may not have been able to reach the same heights last season as he did at Leyton Orient, but he was one of few players to emerge with any credit from the Gas’ disappointing relegation campaign, and he would certainly be a dangerous attacking threat in League Two.
As Ziggy says, Sotiriou may be keen to force an exit from the Memorial Stadium this summer in order to further his international ambitions, but having won the League Two title previously with the O’s, Clarke should attempt to convince him to stay and repeat the feat with the Gas next season.
Discussion about this post