Bristol Rovers have confirmed the exit of 15 players in the aftermath of their relegation to League Two, as the club begins a significant reshuffle ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Nine senior squad members, including captain Scott Sinclair, will leave when their contracts expire this summer, while six loanees return to their parent clubs.
Veteran Faces and Loanees Head Out the Door
Among those departing the Memorial Stadium are experienced professionals such as Sinclair, Grant Ward, Jack Hunt and Luke McCormick. Romaine Sawyers, Jevani Brown, Jerry Lawrence, Matt Hall and the long-injured Chris Martin round off the group of contracted players leaving the Memorial Stadium. Martin, who has been rehabilitating a knee injury, remains with the club for now, with a decision on a potential new deal expected once he regains fitness.
Sinclair’s departure ends his second spell at the club, having returned to his boyhood side two-and-a-half years ago. The winger, who was appointed captain for the 2024/25 season, missed the final day clash at Blackpool along with Ward and Hunt.
McCormick’s time at the club also concludes, following two spells and over 100 appearances. The midfielder spent the second half of this season on loan at Forest Green Rovers, where he remains involved in a promotion push.
Six loan players will also return to their parent clubs: Lino Sousa and Sil Swinkels (Aston Villa), Gatlin O’Donkor (Oxford United), Matt Butcher (Wycombe Wanderers), Michael Reindorf (Cardiff City), and Myles Roberts (Watford).
Goalkeeper Hall exits after two seasons, having made only two appearances, while 20-year-old academy graduate Lawrence departs after three senior outings.
“On behalf of Bristol Rovers I would like to express my gratitude to each of the players and staff who are moving on from the club this summer. Each goes with our collective best wishes for the future,” said director of football Ricky Martin. “The hard work is already underway in terms of our preparations for the 2025/26 season, including a comprehensive recruitment process for both our coaching department and first-team squad.”
In a rare positive note, the club confirmed that defender James Wilson will remain with the Gas after a one-year contract extension was triggered. The centre-back has played every minute of the campaign and is expected to be a central figure in the rebuild.
Writer’s View
Bristol Rovers’ mass clear-out reflects the depth of change needed after a season that ended in relegation and disillusionment. While the departure of stalwarts like Sinclair and McCormick will be felt emotionally, the board’s decisive action suggests a hard reset is in motion.
With a new manager on the horizon and a large portion of the squad now vacated, the summer rebuild will define how quickly Rovers can bounce back—or whether they risk languishing in League Two.
