Matt Taylor is still keen on bringing in a goalkeeper to Bristol Rovers to provide support for Josh Griffiths, although the Gas manager admits it will have to be the right individual.
Rovers signed 16 players over the summer, one of whom was Griffiths who arrived on a season-long loan from West Brom to be number one, but also lost a goalkeeper for the campaign when sending Jed Ward out on loan to Forest Green Rovers.
The plan is to keep Ward with the National League club for as long as possible with the 21-year-old starting life at the Nailsworth outfit fantastically, saving two penalties and keeping five clean sheets.
However, that has left the Gas with just two goalkeepers and 21-year-old Matt Hall, whose only competitive appearance for Rovers came in last month’s 3-3 draw against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, has been deemed not ready by his manager.
Therefore, Taylor has taken the risk of not naming a goalkeeper on the bench in the league every game since the opening day in order to have an extra outfield player available to affect the match if needed.
With the transfer market not opening again until January, Rovers will have to recruit a free agent, something that the Gas boss is pushing for.
“As a manager, I still want to sign a goalkeeper,” Taylor told Bristol Live. “We’ve not been able to do that as yet. I hope we keep working towards doing that, not just in terms of the position on the bench when something happens during the game but for everyday training. To work with two goalkeepers isn’t enough.
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“So yeah, I’m pushing as hard as I possibly can but it has to be the right player, it’s got to be the right fit for this football club so we won’t rush into it but that’s what I’m pushing towards. Whoever that is they’ve got to be capable of producing a certain level of play to sit on the bench over the decision to select seven outfield players and taking a little bit of risk as it might be seen but having an option to affect the game in a different way.”
In terms of goalkeepers that are currently unattached that could be on Rovers’ radar, former Gas loanee Jamal Blackman is yet to find a new club after being released by Burton Albion at the end of last season. The 30-year-old has also worked with Taylor and goalkeeping coach Scott Brown before at Exeter City.
Ex-Cambridge United ‘keeper James Holden is another currently without a club who played in the third tier last season as is Tomas Holy who was at Carlisle United.
Who the Gas sign, if they do bring a goalkeeper in, will have to fit a certain profile as Taylor mentioned. In an ideal world, someone who can push Griffiths and offer the 23-year-old, as well as Hall, valuable experience and guidance.