Finley...

My benchmark for us is always Division 3, it’s the least we should be. Although this century younger fans may have a ‘lower’ benchmark considering where we’ve been for many seasons.

Sam Finley came to us when we’d just had an awful relegation and the whole team and manager had given up well before we were actually down. With Paul Coutts and various others he helped get us back first time, something we don’t usually do when relegated to the bottom league. Others scored and created the goals that got us promotion but he was an important part of the team and when he played well he was excellent. When MT came in this season he had a real purple patch and looked even better under MT. But since the Norwich match like everyone else it’s got worse. Don’t know why but it seems like something happened or perhaps it was just a natural ending.
Whatever, hes been one of the consistently good players imo, over his three years. A promotion and two worry-free seasons from relegation in League. That hasn’t happened too many times this century.

I don’t think many will be sad to see Sam Finley go which I can kind of understand. His performances have dipped down like the rest of the team which makes me think something has happened / been said or even agreed. But I’m always aware of being careful what you wish for. Trolls changed his team after two decent consolidated seasons in 2010 losing a lot of solid players who’d done well. We got relegated in 2011. DC in 2018 after two decent seasons had to make changes from his trusted teams. We didn’t replace with better players and by December he’d gone and by 2021 we were relegated. I’m not saying this will happen this time because circumstances are different. I hope MT will be allowed to bring his own players in and we can consolidate at least next season.

Whatever thanks Sam. Your commitment on the pitch has been appreciated. We’ve had 7 promotions and you were part of one of them. Some of our legends didn’t manage that! You helped return us to where we should always at least be. 👏👏👏


UTG!

Would have been the first name on the teamsheet for the first part of this season. Unfortunately, his performances deteriorated from around the time B***** left. Funny that.

Naughty! You can expect a visit from the Stasi/thought police soon. 

Having watched all but two games this season, it's clear Finlay has performed below what we all know he is capable of for the last half of it. That pretty much coincided with Barton leaving. Using the classic tactic of dismissing that as an inconvenient truth won't change things.

However, it seems we both agree (for differing reasons), he is now past his sale-by date for League 1 and a good time for both parties to part company. "

'It's been a pleasure' - Sam Finley confirms his Bristol Rovers departure after three seasons..By Daniel Hargraves.

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Sam Finley has confirmed that he will be departing Bristol Rovers this summer

Sam Finley has unofficially confirmed that he will be leaving Bristol Rovers at the end of the season after three years at the football club via a post on social media.

The Rovers captain took to X on Sunday to post a picture with his fellow Scouse teammates Antony Evans, James Connolly and Jordan Rossiter as well as his two children with the caption: "Scouse mafia, it's been a pleasure" with heart and rollercoaster emojis.

Finley's future at the club beyond this campaign has been a discussion point for virtually its entirety given that his current deal expires this summer and it appears as though there is now an answer.

Although there hasn't been an official club confirmation regarding the skipper's pending departure yet with the retained list set to be published after this weekend's final match at Wigan Athletic, Club President Wael Al-Qadi replied to the post, "Thank you dear Sam, club captain, legend and leader - true to your word that you'd get us promoted when you first joined. See you soon mate."

The Gas captain has been absent from the past five matchday squads meaning that his final appearance for the club will have come in the goalless draw at home to Shrewsbury Town earlier this month, clocking the League Two promotion hero in at 121 appearances.

Finley was an integral part of the 2021/22 promotion winning team, his first season at the club, making 36 league appearances that campaign while contributing five goals and seven assists in the fourth tier as playing the full 90 minutes of the famous 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United to seal promotion in the most sensational of fashions.

He was also one of Joey B*****'s first signings at the club, joining on a free transfer from Fleetwood Town and was announced on the same day as the arrivals of Nick Anderton, Paul Coutts and Mark Hughes.

Once again a regular fixture in B*****'s side the following campaign playing 43 times across all competitions, the midfielder started to wear the armband more regularly whenever Coutts wasn't on the pitch before behind named club captain ahead of this season which has seen the 31-year-old feature in 38 games.

A leader on the pitch over the past three seasons whether he's worn the armband or not, Finley's contributions off the pitch to the club and community is what will especially make him a fondly remembered, stalwart custodian of Bristol Rovers with the skipper named Bristol Rovers Community Trust Community Champion for this term alongside Gas Girls forward Abi Hughes.