Bristol Rovers must rue recent Exeter City transfer mistake along with these 4 others | OneFootball

A look back at five transfers from the Gas' modern history that supporters would likely rather forget.

Bristol Rovers are a club that epitomise the sporadic highs and lows expected of a club that fluctuates between the lower leagues.

Having experienced four promotions and four relegations in the 21st century thus far, it is unsurprising that for every player that may provoke fond memories in the blue-and-white half of Bristol, there have been several players whose mere mention may produce a retrospective wince.

Taking a difficult look back, this article discusses five Pirates transfers that quite simply, didn't work out.

Max Ehmer

Having just captained Gillingham to an respectable 10th place finish in League One, the arrival of German centre-half Max Ehmer was viewed as something of a coup for Ben Garner's Gas in the summer of 2020.

Ehmer was immediately entrusted with the armband, an appointment that quickly appeared out of place, as aside from notably poor performance both technical and physical, his attitude, leadership qualities and general connection with the club were evidently off.

Following the introduction of Joey Barton, Ehmer was stripped of captaincy, with the manager claiming he could not understand why he was ever given the armband.

The Frankfurt-born defender personified the attitudes of one of Rovers' worst seasons in modern memory, playing his final game in March as the Pirates finished comfortably rock bottom of the third-tier.

His contract was terminated shortly after the season's conclusion. He would rejoin Gillingham, who would themselves be relegated to League Two that following season.

Chris Zebroski

One of seventeen signings made by Paul Buckle in the summer of 2011, as a recently relegated Bristol Rovers cleared house, and strove to achieve League Two promotion at the first time of asking with what was essentially an entirely new squad.

While many of the players acquired ahead of the 2011-12 season could easily make this list, Swindon-born forward Chris Zebroski easily tops the list of those least endeared to the Thatchers End faithful.

Zebroski followed the incoming manager from Torquay, with promise as a proven goalscorer in the fourth-tier, coming off the back of 14 goals in the previous season.

This did not transpire, however, as the striker would score just three times across the entirety of the league season, an average of less than one every thirteen hours.

He would leave for nearby Cheltenham Town the following season. Upon his return to the Mem, he scored, and emphatically celebrated, in an infuriating 1-0 away win. The goal brought his tally of total league goals at the ground from one to two.

Zebroski was jailed in 2015 for counts of robbery and assault, and has been playing in non-league since his release.

Derek Riordan

While a twelve-week-deal outside the transfer window doesn't typically lend itself for expectation, the short-term signing of former Scotland international Derek Riordan in 2012 has become infamous among Gasheads as perhaps the worst incoming player in the club's 142-year history.

Arriving with 128 goal involvements in the Scottish top-flight to his name, Riordan joined the South West side completely overqualified for League Two level.

Signed by fellow Scot Mark McGhee to cover an injured Matt Harrold, supporters were forgiveably hopeful for the former Hibs man's arrival. However, what had likely proved the genesis for his considerable step-down would also overshadow his short stay, as it soon became apparent that the Edinburger was in the midst of a sinister legal battle that would distract him from his playing career.

With the nature of litigation, the decision to bring him in represented a disappointing stance from the club, and put a tremendous amount of pressure on McGhee for him to perform.

What followed was twelve completely anonymous and ineffective performances from the one-time set-piece specialist, failing to score or assist for the club.

While it is difficult to find statistical evidence of just how uninspiring the former Celtic man's time at Rovers was, a 2015 poll held by Rovers' forum GasChat concluded that Derek Riordan was the popular vote as the clubs worst striker of all time, with one user stating, "surely no one can disagree with [Riordan]. He had so little interest in this club it was insulting".

With a short amount of time still left on his short deal, Riordan returned to Scotland of his own accord following the dismissal of McGhee near Christmas.

Jevani Brown

While it seems uncouth to include a current player in the list, the acquisition of Jevani Brown has been desperately disappointing.

A consistent theme in this list, Brown arrived with controversy, with the club receiving criticism from both the fanbase and campaigners of Her Game Too.

From a purely footballing perspective, Brown arrived from Exeter City off the back of 12 League One goals. The forward-cum-attacking-midfielder arrived with expectations of being a ready-made third-tier asset.

However, this did not transpire, as the former Cambridge man just could not make things click in the blue and white shirt.

After an incredibly difficult 2023-24 saw supporters turn on the 30-year-old, Brown was deemed surplus to requirements and loaned to fourth-tier Notts County.

Despite dropping a level, his output became even worse for the Magpies, and following a 14-game spell that garnered zero goals or assists, was sent back to Bristol Rovers.

Brown's contract expires this summer, and doesn't appear to be at risk of making a matchday squad anytime soon.

Dominic Blizzard

Midfielder Dominic Blizzard arrived from Stockport County in the summer of 2009 with some fanfare, having reportedly ignored Championship interest to join up with a Rovers side that had finished 11th in League One last year.

Put simply, the former Watford man was anticipated to elevate the side from mid-table languishers to genuine League One promotion hopefuls.

But proving the old adage that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, as despite Paul Trollope persisting with him in the side for the best part of 2009-10, it was quite evident that he was not up to the standard needed.

Blizzard lost his place in the side, playing less than 250 league minutes in his second and final season, failing to break into a side that saw themselves surprisingly relegated by May 2011.