Bristol Rovers have announced the signing of former Scotland international Chris Martin on a short-term deal, according to official club media.
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since leaving Championship side Queens Park Rangers at the end of last season and it was reported at the beginning of the month that manager Gareth Ainsworth was considering bringing the veteran back to Loftus Road, with discussions taking place between the two parties.
Having spent the bulk of his career playing in England’s second tier, Rovers boss Joey Barton will be hoping that his experience will pay dividends as he targets promotion from League One.
It is no secret that a striker was high on the agenda for the Pirates this summer, with a last-ditch attempt to bring in Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris falling through after the relevant paperwork failed to be submitted on time.
Martin previously spent time at rivals Bristol City, scoring 17 goals in 95 appearances before his release last January. He now arrives at the other end of the city – via QPR – on a short-term deal until January.
Speaking after the announcement, manager Barton said;
“We are delighted to get Chris in with us and add another striker to our group. He joins us at a good time and his presence will further add experience and quality to our squad. We are looking forward to seeing him have an impact in the coming months.”
Rovers currently sit 12th in League One and Martin could make his debut this Saturday when they travel to Cambridgeshire to face Peterborough.
Writer’s View
Chris Martin is a player who could prove to be the difference maker in the coming months for Bristol Rovers. Although his best days are behind him, he should still be able to make an impact in League One after spending over a decade operating in the league above.
His short time at QPR last season was considered a success and it was a surprise to see that he was released at the end of the season. The fact that Ainsworth wanted to bring him back shows that that feeling is shared at Loftus Road, but Martin clearly feels that he will get more game time by dropping down a division.
He will already have one eye on November’s clash with Derby County, where he spent a large chunk of his career, scoring 76 goals in 224 appearances.
Head of Writing
