The 21-year-old defender has signed a three-year deal with the club
Joey Barton has provided his verdict on latest Bristol Rovers signing Connor Taylor from Stoke City who has re-joined the club after being a star player in the Gas’ 2021/22 League Two promotion season.
Rovers announced earlier this evening that the centre-back has signed a three-year deal at the Mem for an undisclosed fee, although Bristol Live understands it is in the region of £300,000.
The now-21-year-old played 41 league matches for the club as a loanee from the Championship outfit two seasons ago and became a firm favourite amongst supporters.
It is also the second time this summer that a loanee from that season has returned to the club on a permanent deal with Luke Thomas joining from Barnsley and the third time under Barton’s tenure with James Connolly 12 months ago
“I’m absolutely delighted to be back,” Taylor told the club’s media. “It’s no secret how much I enjoyed myself on loan and I want to do that again. The relationship that I built with the gaffer, the fans and all the staff was second-to-none so when I had the opportunity to come back permanently, it was a chance that I had to jump at.”
Barton spoke to BBC Radio Bristol’s ‘Having a Gas’ podcast about bringing the defender back to the club, saying: “Connor is somebody who already has a story with Rovers. He had a fantastic season in League Two with us and for us, we’d love to continue that journey. But Connor wasn’t our player, he was a Stoke player.
“He went back there and this summer I think there is an opportunity for him to get out. And rightly Connor had a lot of interest. I spoke to Connor and there was Championship interest in him. But there was no doubt in his mind for him and his family that Rovers was the best place for his development.
“It will be a real boost and also another step in the right direction for me of converting a loan player who, if he can’t kick on into his manager’s first team plans like Elliot Anderson, then they’re more than welcome back at Rovers at some point in the future.”
The Rovers manager went on to discuss the club’s loan policy, mentioning former loanee Lewis Gibson who was a target this summer but instead opted to join Championship side Plymouth Argyle. “Look, some go your way,” the 40-year-old said. “Some like Lewis Gibson, who were great lads, decide that they want to sign for a Championship club then as I say the key is that when they sign they give everything for the jersey. You’re not going to sign every single loan player you take.
“But there is some methodology in taking young loan players because it’s almost a kind of try before you buy sometimes because the margins of errors and the opportunities at Premier League clubs and Championship clubs now is so fine. The manager turnaround at those clubs is the same, it’s so quick. A lot of managers don’t get the chance to blood a kid and give him 40 games like sometimes we do down here.
“I think everybody knows what a good player he [Taylor] is and it would be great if he trusts us and his family trust us with the next stage of his development.”
The Gas kick off their 2023/24 League One season away at Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, although they will be without their manager as Barton begins a three-game ban for an incident with a match official towards the end of last season.
It does, however, appear as though Taylor will at least be involved somehow as Rovers look to put an end to their woeful opening day record and secure a statement result against a promotion favourite to start off the season.
SIGN UP: To receive our free Rovers newsletter, bringing you the latest from the Mem
Leave a Reply