Bristol Rovers invite new League Two relegation pressure with 'bizarre' transfer decision | OneFootball

Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town deadline day Isaac Hutchinson loan deal raised eyebrows

It was a busy transfer window for Bristol Rovers as new head coach Steve Evans made it a total of nine inward transfers with ten going in the opposite direction. One piece of business the Gas conducted though left some supporters with raised eyebrows, and could invite new pressure in a highly consequential relegation scrap.

Early in the window, new Bristol Rovers head coach Steve Evans was presented with the dilemma over what to do with attacking midfielder Isaac Hutchinson. The 25-year-old had been out on loan to Cheltenham Town, in eye-catching form, bagging goals and assists during his stint with the Robins.

Decisive Steve Evans action in Isaac Hutchinson Bristol Rovers recall

Ordinarily, you would think that form made it an easy decision for Evans. However, despite arriving with great promise and being tipped as an ideal replacement for Antony Evans, Hutchinson just couldn’t settle at Rovers, with some of the reasons for that becoming clear in the days following his initial loan.

Evans did pull the trigger to recall Hutchinson after a meeting with the talented midfielder, following which Evans spoke to the club's media: "Obviously, I am aware that he’s done well at Cheltenham. Of course, I’ve seen Isaac play this season at Cheltenham because Cheltenham is one of a number of teams that I’ve watched.

"My plan was always to come in and have a fresh look at him. I got the kid back for a chat, amongst ignoring the media words, and there is a future here for him. I understand that there have been some issues in the past, but as I said to him, we go forward under me, and we call it the future. So, he has to come in, work hard, ignore the hype around him and just concentrate on playing.

"There is nothing that will make the Gasheads turn again than scoring goals and playing really well, and that’s his objective. He’s a lovely kid, and he has my full support. He’s a young man who has made mistakes. Perhaps, there have been mistakes that have been made towards him as well, but there’s no one who has made more mistakes than me in my career. He’s made mistakes, I think he is a little bit humble about that, and there is a lot of humbleness in his words. There will be no words spoken, other than doing it with his feet and playing football for us. So, let's see what he does."

Hutchinson featured in three of the four matches following his recall before new additions then began to fill the team sheet and Hutchinson seemingly became less favoured.

There was perhaps a sense of inevitability then when news started to emerge, via Gloucestershire Live’s Jon Palmer, late on deadline day that the 25-year-old midfielder would be returning to Whaddon Road.

Deadline Day Hutchinson loan deal labelled bizarre

The confirmation of the deal led to many Gasheads questioning the handling of the situation, also raising fears that it could come back to bite Bristol Rovers should Hutchinson bag crucial goals for Cheltenham, impacting Rovers’ survival chances. Hutchinson has already seemingly picked up where he left off with Cheltenham by adding to his goal tally at the first attempt.

While it did, of course, make sense to recall Hutchinson owing to his form, and if, as we are led to believe, he still had a future with the club, to then send him back to Cheltenham on another loan feels bizarre.

Some would say Rovers aren’t in a position to loan out one of their most valuable assets (statistically, Bristol Rovers’ best midfielder this season – away from the club), but with Hutchinson unable to settle at the Gas, not many supporters would have been concerned by a permanent move away instead.

Of course, there are complications that would have had to be considered. Not least EFL regulations prevent a player from playing for three clubs in one season, making Cheltenham the only club in the mix. And there may have been financial limitations for Cheltenham to make the move permanent.

Isaac Hutchinson continuing form invites unnecessary pressure for Bristol Rovers

At time of writing, Cheltenham sit just three points and one position above Rovers in the League Two table. The Robins have two crucial games coming up at the end of February against sides currently below Rovers — first, away to Harrogate on February 27th before they host Barrow at Whaddon Road a week later. And, of course, Rovers will host Cheltenham at the Mem in the penultimate match of the season, which comes the week after the Robins host fellow relegation rivals Newport.

It’s unlikely Hutchinson will play any part against his parent club, but between now and then, he could have a big say in where the two clubs sit when they collide in April, presenting perhaps an unnecessary and wholly avoidable extra pressure. Rovers themselves still have matches to play against teams currently sitting below them in the table with trips to Barrow and Harrogate to come.

There will obviously have been discussions we aren't privy to behind the scenes and more information could still come to light. Ultimately, though, should Rovers steer clear of the drop zone, then it won't matter how or why the loan unfolded. But with plenty of time remaining on his Rovers contract, this is sure to be a topic revisited in the summer.