Daniel Wales and Charles Hague-Jones discuss what is next for Bristol Rovers.
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00:00Now, Bristol Rovers have just had one point in their last however many games in League One.
00:07It's been a terrible end to this season.
00:10Obviously, it was slightly in the balance until the last month or so,
00:13whether they were to avoid the drop.
00:15They had to pull together and it seems like possibly things fell apart.
00:20Yes, the relegation confirms to League Two is a massive drop down.
00:25It's a massive step backwards in the wrong direction.
00:28But, you know, it's so hard as a club.
00:31You know, your fans, your players, your staff, everyday staff,
00:35you know, the caterers from the kit people to the people on the pitch doing the business
00:40who have just fallen short this season.
00:43It's a massive change.
00:44It's a massive sort of, you know,
00:46shifting emotions for everyone involved in the club.
00:48And they need to sort of realise that and try and remain positive.
00:52Obviously, the final game of the season, just playing for pride.
00:55But also, you know, it's going to be a big summer.
00:57It's going to be a summer where you have to adjust for another division.
01:01You do not want to plateau.
01:03You do not want to stagnate in the division or even be flirting around the bottom of it.
01:07Because if you can't change your confidence, if you can't change your belief,
01:11then that certainly can happen.
01:13It's happened to a number of sides who've come down from the likes of the Premier League as well.
01:17So, Bristol Rovers need to now really, really go into the summer, you know,
01:22final game of the season, but go into the summer and galvanise themselves
01:26and make sure they are trying to get back to League One next season.
01:30Dan, what are your thoughts on where Bristol Rovers are at the moment?
01:33Obviously, a devastating relegation had by the club.
01:37But, you know, how important is it that they actually bounce back
01:39and just have a bit of pride about them in these final few moments
01:44and try and go into the summer with a bit more confidence
01:47in terms of laying out a plan and trying to get back to League One?
01:52Naturally, Charles, yes, the aim will be returning to League One as quickly as possible.
01:55But I think they have to set out a strategy as soon as possible as well
01:59because, of course, the fans of the club will want to know exactly the direction the club is going in.
02:04You know, with the recent takeover, but then a relegation and the futures of head coach Nego Calderon
02:11and several other playing squad now in doubt because relegation is always cast doubt over these types of things.
02:16There has to be some sort of clear direction set out from perhaps Calderon if he is going to stay
02:22and then from the leadership groups or the board as well in terms of exactly what this club wants to be
02:29and where it wants to go because it can't afford just to be loitering back down in League Two
02:33if this board and this club has higher expectations.
02:37They've got to be set out as quickly as possible
02:39and that will hopefully mean that they can get out of League Two quickly.
02:43They can be efficient in doing that even if it takes just a year
02:47or even if it takes two to three years.
02:49Perhaps rebuilding might be needed depending on exactly how bad the situation is within the club.
02:54But for now at least they just need to set out the plan and the strategy
02:57and however long it takes is how long it takes.
03:00But the club just needs a direction because this last six months have been not good enough from everyone involved.
03:08Obviously the takeover breathed some life into the club and people thought,
03:11well yes, it can now develop, it can go on, it can be a strong and secure League One club
03:17but that hasn't happened now.
03:18That of course can't be completely put onto those in terms of running the club
03:24because of course they don't play the games themselves
03:26but certainly their strategy has had an impact as well.
03:29So it has to be a huge fix from terms of those running the club and the strategy
03:33and who they bring in, who they sign
03:35but also as well the standards from the playing staff and the coaches as well
03:40and Nego Calderon himself.
03:42So lots to be worked on, lots to be done over the summer.
03:45Their final game of the season of course will now just be in terms of playing for pride
03:49and hopefully that they can maybe instil some confidence and belief into their supporters
03:54that this will be a productive summer
03:56and it won't just be a one where the club just goes stale
03:59and goes into the League Two season next year
04:01and still doesn't exactly know where it wants to be or where it wants to go
04:04because that would be the absolute worst thing
04:06and then it could end up finding itself stuck in League Two for the foreseeable future
04:11which for a club that certainly when the new owners came in
04:15it would appear that it had lofty ambitions for those to so quickly go out of the window
04:21it would cast a lot of doubt to the supporters at least
04:25as to what this football club is going to be and what it's going to become
04:28especially when you see their rivals and neighbours
04:31Bristol City doing so well in the Championship
04:33fans of the gas just need some clarity going forward
04:36about what their club is going to be in the coming years
04:40and what it can achieve hopefully
04:42and get it back to League One as soon as possible.