Bristol Rovers will have transfer regret as Walsall evidence unfolds | OneFootball

With Jed Ward in electric form at the start of the EFL season, Bristol Rovers might come to regret their decision to sell

To say Bristol Rovers have been proactive during this transfer window would be an understatement. Around half a dozen signings before the players had even returned from their summer breaks, as well as a number of young, exciting future prospects signed on loan underlined the intent with which Steve Evans and his Bristol Rovers side are attacking this new campaign.

However, there’s one piece of Bristol Rovers business coming under increasing scrutiny among supporters now that the new season is underway. Rovers sold goalkeeper Jed Ward to Walsall in the summer and the former England youth international has started the season in electric fashion for his new club.

Ward moved to Walsall this summer for an undisclosed fee following a number of years in and out of the Bristol Rovers side. He’d been touted by many at the club as their future number one, and the graduate of the club's thriving academy did temporarily manage to claim that spot.

Stop-start for Jed Ward at Bristol Rovers

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Ward appeared to have made his breakthrough into the Rovers first team during the 2023-24 campaign, making 19 appearances in all competitions. However, a loan move to Forest Green would follow with the youngster deemed not quite ready.

Ward would get another opportunity to stake his claim as the club's number one with a further 18 appearances at the back-end of the 2024-25 season, but some costly errors created uncertainty around his readiness for league football. In 2025–26, Ward would find himself out on loan once more, even picking up players’ player of the year as well as supporters player of the year during a season-long stay at Yeovil Town.

Steve Evans never seemed fully convinced by the young keeper despite previously speaking of his admiration for him, saying: "He's a young goalkeeper I think highly of." The now-Walsall shot-stopper ultimately chose a move that guaranteed him the number one shirt rather than sitting on the bench. A move that already seems inspired.

Even away from BS7, though, Ward continues to endear himself to Gasheads with his Saddlers debut coming against the Gas' local rivals Bristol City in the first round of the Carabao Cup. It was an eye-catching debut for the young goalkeeper who kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 Walsall victory.

And the clean sheets have kept coming for Ward who, at time of writing, is still yet to concede a goal this season. Four consecutive clean sheets in his first four matches in all comps for Walsall has left some Gasheads scratching their heads at his Rovers exit.

A familiar problem for Bristol Rovers

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In contrast, Rovers have started their season with a leaky defence, and Brad Young is now coming under scrutiny for his role in the goals. Young, and the Rovers rear-guard have started the season in far from ideal fashion, conceding seven goals in the three games in which he’s played.

The club does seem to have a habit of scoring own goals in this area, with this being a subject that keeps on recurring. It can be argued that the club still hasn't found a replacement for fan favourite James Belshaw, who left the club under somewhat of a cloud a few years ago owing to a falling out with then-manager Joey Barton, with Rovers at times left scrambling to find a replacement. Several loans and stop-starts later, here we are again talking about a potential gap in the goalkeeping department. And an academy graduate let go who is thriving elsewhere.

Some would say you have to be ruthless when in charge of a football team, and that’s exactly how Steve Evans approached this situation, it would seem.

No one is a given in any position, and clearly there were still too many doubts around Jed Ward. Doubts he has now surely expelled.

Charlie Binns has been brought in to try to fill any gaps, but Rovers still lack experience in that department.

It’s unclear at this time just how much Walsall paid for Ward, and whether — or more likely which add-ons were batched into the transfer arrangement. Rovers may well have attached a sell-on percentage as well as performance-based add-ons, so no doubt the club hierarchy will have everything crossed that Ward continues to be a success.

For Ward, Walsall is a chance to be first choice in the EFL rather than compete or go out on loan again. For Bristol Rovers, it could turn out to be a huge regret should he be the catalyst to a successful Walsall.