Post by brizzle on May 28, 2015 12:37:21 GMT
There's an interview with Lee Brown in today's Bristol Post, but I found the highlighted section to be interesting as I haven't read that before . . .
Foreseeable future eh? I quite like the sound of that.
LONG-serving defender Lee Brown believes Bristol Rovers only need a few "quality" additions to have a squad capable of competing at the top end of League Two next season.
Manager Darrell Clarke has already stated that he would like to add four or five new faces to his Vanarama Conference promotion-winning squad ahead of the 2015-16 season.
Brown, said: "There won't be a club in League Two that won't be looking to strengthen.
"I doubt this club will be any different and I think the gaffer has already said he wants to add maybe four or five new faces to boost key areas.
"It is important in football to build when you are in a period of forward momentum, like we are at the moment.
"We certainly have the nucleus of a squad that is capable of doing well in League Two and that is also important because all teams that are successful have that.
"When you have a good nucleus it gives a manager the chance to evolve his team rather than revolutionise it. Then it is just a matter of adding those few quality additions that will give us the opportunity to kick on again."
Brown, who has already agreed to extend his contract and will remain at the Memorial Stadium for the foreseeable future, added: "When you go through the sort of experiences we have been through over the last few weeks and months you tend to make friends for life. We are more than just team-mates – we have become friends and that is one of the reasons we have done so well this season. Coming into training and having a bit of fun with the rest of the boys has been a joy all season."
It was a season that ended with a glorious penalty shootout success over Grimsby Town in the Vanarama Promotion final at Wembley – but Rovers encountered plenty of ups and downs on the road towards that dramatic finale.
Rovers failed to win any of their opening three games before going on to miss out on winning the Conference title by a point, and Brown said: "The away game at Lincoln in September was a big turning point for me.
"That was the game after which I felt that we would definitely be there or thereabouts. We were two goals up and they pegged us back to 2-2.
"I missed a penalty in the 88th minute, yet we didn't crumble and still went on to win the game in stoppage time. It showed that there was great character in the team and that we had a never-say-die attitude."
Brown made up for that miss from the spot by burying one from 12 yards as Rovers completed a 5-3 penalty shootout success at Wembley to secure a return to the Football League at the first time of asking.
"I knew exactly what I was going to do with the penalty," said Brown.
"I had missed the two previous penalties I had taken so there was a little bit of doubt in my mind as I made my way from the halfway line.
"The thought of not putting myself forward to take one never even entered my head, but I was pretty relieved when I was jogging back.
"It was a tense day on which quite a few of us were some way short of our best.
"I'm happy to play badly as long as we get a result and on days like that it is the result that is all that matters. Grimsby were the better team, but we won the game and that is all I really care about."
Brown and the rest of his team-mates were given the opportunity to celebrate their success with an open-top bus tour on Bank Holiday Monday.
"It was a lovely turnout, especially through Kingswood High Street and back at the Mem," said Brown.
"The last time we had that many supporters on the pitch they were pretty upset as it was the day we were relegated after we lost to Mansfield.
"The expressions on their faces on Monday compared to then were like chalk and cheese. It is a lovely feeling to be a part of that transformation and, hopefully, I can be a part of it for a lot longer."
Manager Darrell Clarke has already stated that he would like to add four or five new faces to his Vanarama Conference promotion-winning squad ahead of the 2015-16 season.
Brown, said: "There won't be a club in League Two that won't be looking to strengthen.
"I doubt this club will be any different and I think the gaffer has already said he wants to add maybe four or five new faces to boost key areas.
"It is important in football to build when you are in a period of forward momentum, like we are at the moment.
"We certainly have the nucleus of a squad that is capable of doing well in League Two and that is also important because all teams that are successful have that.
"When you have a good nucleus it gives a manager the chance to evolve his team rather than revolutionise it. Then it is just a matter of adding those few quality additions that will give us the opportunity to kick on again."
Brown, who has already agreed to extend his contract and will remain at the Memorial Stadium for the foreseeable future, added: "When you go through the sort of experiences we have been through over the last few weeks and months you tend to make friends for life. We are more than just team-mates – we have become friends and that is one of the reasons we have done so well this season. Coming into training and having a bit of fun with the rest of the boys has been a joy all season."
It was a season that ended with a glorious penalty shootout success over Grimsby Town in the Vanarama Promotion final at Wembley – but Rovers encountered plenty of ups and downs on the road towards that dramatic finale.
Rovers failed to win any of their opening three games before going on to miss out on winning the Conference title by a point, and Brown said: "The away game at Lincoln in September was a big turning point for me.
"That was the game after which I felt that we would definitely be there or thereabouts. We were two goals up and they pegged us back to 2-2.
"I missed a penalty in the 88th minute, yet we didn't crumble and still went on to win the game in stoppage time. It showed that there was great character in the team and that we had a never-say-die attitude."
Brown made up for that miss from the spot by burying one from 12 yards as Rovers completed a 5-3 penalty shootout success at Wembley to secure a return to the Football League at the first time of asking.
"I knew exactly what I was going to do with the penalty," said Brown.
"I had missed the two previous penalties I had taken so there was a little bit of doubt in my mind as I made my way from the halfway line.
"The thought of not putting myself forward to take one never even entered my head, but I was pretty relieved when I was jogging back.
"It was a tense day on which quite a few of us were some way short of our best.
"I'm happy to play badly as long as we get a result and on days like that it is the result that is all that matters. Grimsby were the better team, but we won the game and that is all I really care about."
Brown and the rest of his team-mates were given the opportunity to celebrate their success with an open-top bus tour on Bank Holiday Monday.
"It was a lovely turnout, especially through Kingswood High Street and back at the Mem," said Brown.
"The last time we had that many supporters on the pitch they were pretty upset as it was the day we were relegated after we lost to Mansfield.
"The expressions on their faces on Monday compared to then were like chalk and cheese. It is a lovely feeling to be a part of that transformation and, hopefully, I can be a part of it for a lot longer."
Foreseeable future eh? I quite like the sound of that.