McGhee Hopeful Over Clarkson Deal

Since it was reported last Friday, news on the potential signing of David Clarkson has gone very quiet. Mark McGhee explained last week that the former Bristol City striker was training with the squad and he planned on talking with him on Monday or Tuesday of this week to convince the highly-rated striker to join the club.

At the time of the interview McGhee explained that Clarkson may see his future at a higher level than League Two having played in the SPL and Championship within the last 5 years. Having said that it was hoped that his love of living in Bristol and reuniting with his former Motherwell manager would aid our efforts to sign him. However this week has passed with no further news, leading many to speculate that we wouldn't pull off the major coup we had all hoped for last Friday and that Clarkson will go on to move to a League One club.

Today though Mark McGhee has been interviewed by the press and optimistically said; 'the chairman is busy trying to sort out a deal with him. We're hopeful he will join us.'

'He came south and maybe got a bit complacent. I'm going to challenge him on that because I won't have anyone complacent in my team. I need him running those channels, putting people under pressure and chasing lost causes. Only then will he become a player worthy of playing for Bristol Rovers.'

He has been included in the squad that will play Weston tomorrow afternoon, fuelling confidence that he will be a Rovers player next season. A mixture of first team and youth team players will travel to the club's two pre-season games at Weston and Frome, with McGhee expected to be at the Frome game to open a new stand.

We're expecting news on this deal and further signings next week.