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Pat Keary offered professional contract with Rovers

Four of the U18s who won the league and cup double this season have been offered professional contracts with the club. Although not officially confirmed on the Rovers website or Twitter account, I understand that winger Alefe Santos and defenders Pat Keary, Tom Lockyer and Josh Southway have been handed terms for next season.

They are receiving congratulatory tweets from first team players this evening after announcing the news and it is thought a club statement will be made tomorrow. 1 year deals are thought to be the most likely offers at this point.

While this is great news for them it's a horrible time for the second year scholars who are not being kept, particularly when you consider what they have won this season. A number of the squad who won the league and the Youth Alliance Cup are first year scholars so they have a year left but for the likes of Connor Finn this is the end of the road. Good luck to him and the others who have been released, I hope to spot them working their way back up the ladder again over the coming years.

Congratulations though to Santos, Keary, Lockyer and Southway - you've done it lads. The hard-work doesn't stop now though, in fact it's only just beginning. Following a deserved summer break you've got to prove yourself to John Ward, who will happily give you a first team opportunity if you deserve it.

I look forward to applauding your efforts this year when you are paraded around the pitch at half-time in Saturday's game against Accrington Stanley.