EFL club place seven players up for sale, including player once labelled the ‘future of Chelsea’

Bristol Rovers have transfer listed seven first-team players in end-of-season released and retained list.

The League Two club have 22 players under contract ahead of next season.

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It follows talks between manager Steve Evans and each member of the squad, the club have confirmed.

Luke Thomas and Tom Lockyer will both depart the Gas upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.

Meanwhile, five players are set to return to their parent clubs following loan spells at the Memorial Stadium.

Yusuf Akhamrich, Kane Thompson-Sommers, Kofi Balmer, Tommy Leigh and Richie Smallwood have all had temporary spells with the club this term.

It follows their 14th place finish in League Two this term, having been relegated to the fourth tier last year.

Evans’ side lost just one of their final 14 matches including an eight-match winning run prior to Saturday’s draw with Notts County.

Up for sale

Rovers have also announced that seven contracted players will be available for transfer or loan this summer.

The club have confirmed that Luke Southwood, Taylor Moore, Isaac Hutchinson, Josh McEachran, Kamil Conteh, Macauley Southam-Hales and Jed Ward will be able to leave ahead of next season.

Speaking to the club’s media channels, Evans explained: “I want to thank every player and member of staff for their contributions since I joined the Gas in December.

“It has been a sterling effort by the group and now we look forward to the new season.

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“I will speak more about my decisions later in the week in a video with BRTV, but I want to acknowledge the support of the chairman, the board and the club in endorsing my recommendations.”

‘Future of Chelsea’

Amongst those placed on the transfer list is midfielder McEachran, who joined Rovers from Oxford United last summer.

The 33-year-old made 23 appearances for the club this season, scoring once and providing one assist.

However, McEachran made just two league appearances following the turn of the year.

The former England under-21 international was once labelled the ‘future of Chelsea’ earlier in his career.

Having joined the Blues’ academy in 2001, he spent 14 years with the club.

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During that time, he was named Young Player of the Year for the 2010/11 season.

McEachran made 22 first-team appearances for Chelsea and has an FA Cup winners’ medal to boast as part of their triumph in 2012.

Following loan spells at Swansea City, Middlesbrough, Watford, Wigan Athletic and Vitesse Arnhem, he was sold to Brentford in 2015.

Prior to joining Rovers 12 months ago, McEachran has also spent time with Birmingham City and MK Dons.