Bristol Rovers are closing in on a deal for previous promotion-winning defender Alfie Kilgour, who was recently released by League One outfit, Mansfield Town.
Recently relegated to League Two, Darrell Clarke is keen to rebuild his Rovers side for an immediate return to the third tier, entering talks for a former defender from the manager’s previous tenure with the club.
Having recently added a promotion-winning defender in Jack Sparkes to their ranks, reports from Pete O’Rourke have suggested the Gas are close to another defensive acquisition, with Alfie Kilgour close to a return to the South West.
Alfie Kilgour to return to Bristol Rovers.
The central defender would be returning to a club that he has a previous 17 years of association with, having come through the youth ranks with the Gas before departing for Mansfield Town in January 2023.
Kilgour has previously worked with Clarke, having been loaned out to Hungerford Town and Maidenhead United in the 47-year-old’s first tenure with the club.
In the 2019-20 season, the Englishman began to establish himself in the Rovers first team, going on to make 119 appearances for the club, with injuries largely hampering his tenure at the Memorial Stadium.
Playing the latter half of the 2022-23 campaign for Mansfield Town, the defender largely impressed with four goals and standout performances at the back.
However, his time with the Stags was again faltered by injury, having made only 25 appearances and only 14 league starts over the last two seasons.
Now surplus to requirements at Mansfield, the defender is set to return to his former club to work under Clarke again, now much more experienced since the manager’s first spell with the club.
What will Kilgour bring to Bristol Rovers?
Bristol Rovers fans will be no strangers to the defender, who is a dominating figure at 6ft3, with the ability to contribute going forward from set pieces.
Defensive improvement will be at the forefront of Clarke’s attention this summer after the team conceded 76 goals in League One last year amid their relegation, the second most in the division.
While injuries have been a persistent theme of the defender’s career in recent years, there is no doubt that Kilgour would improve the defensive options at the Memorial Stadium.
Having been part of a promotion-winning side in recent years while also knowing the club inside and out, Kilgour will have an excellent awareness of the standards required both at Bristol Rovers as well as a top-end League Two side.
In a consistent run of games, the central defender has proven to be valuable at League Two level, if Rovers can maintain the 27-year-old’s fitness, this could prove to be an astute addition to the squad.
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