Bristol Rovers are expected to win the race to sign promising Chippenham Town defender Dan Ellison according to a report by the Football Insider, beating multiple other sides in the process,
Ellison will be a rather unknown player to many and that’s very much down to his age. Being just 19, he’s only just broken onto the scene this season but has already proven his readiness for the senior game, making a numerous amount of appearances for Chippenham Town last term.
The Bluebirds play in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football and would finish the season in a comfortable 12th place. A move to the EFL represents quite the step up for the youngster but with 30 appearances to his name in the league, 27 of those being starts, he has an incredibly high ceiling.
He’d end up becoming a mainstay in the Chippenham defence as a result of a string of solid performances. It seemed as if the club would face an uphill battle to keep the centre-half this summer and he’s now expected to leave to join Bristol Rovers.
It’s a move which makes a lot of sense for the youngster and also doesn’t mean a significant geographical change which will no doubt help him settle in. With a year still left on his contract with the Bluebirds, Rovers will need to pay a fee, with the National League South outfit likely having some sort of sell-on clause in the deal.
It was not only the Gas who were interested in the centre-back, with the report also stating that both Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County had expressed an interest in the youngster.
Both of those two sides will be playing in the Championship next term following the former’s dramatic late survival and the latter’s promotion from League One. Each would have been a viable option to progress and Danny Rohl and Paul Warne have both showcased their ability to improve talent in recent seasons.
Even though it’s unlikely he’ll play a major role for Bristol Rovers next term, Ellison is certainly a player to keep tabs on for the future.
Writer’s View
Chippenham’s close proximity to Bristol Rovers geographically makes a lot of sense for the move and Ellison may feel more ‘at home’ than had he completed a move to either Sheffield Wednesday or Derby County. Gas’ manager Matt Taylor will still want to improve the defensive cohort further, but it is an interesting signing.
In a few years down the line we may well see this as a missed opportunity for Sheffield Wednesday but after only just surviving on the final day last term, the focus needs to be on the present. There’s plenty to like about the squad under Danny Rohl and improvements will be expected next season with him in charge for the duration.
Senior Editor
