Eliot Richards goes to Exeter City
Bristol Rovers will be bringing Exeter City’s Alan Gow to the club until the end of the season when the loan window reopens tomorrow.
And Eliot Richards will be going the other way and joining the Grecians until the end of the current campaign.
Gow, Exeter’s top goalscorer this season, can play as a striker or an attacking midfielder.
Rovers manager John Ward said: “We became aware that Alan hadn’t played the last three games, and that there was the possibility he might be available for loan.
“We spoke to the club and confirmed this and as part of the conversation it was discussed about Eliot Richards moving the other way.
“Alan is an experienced striker, and he is Exeter’s top goal scorer so far this season, and that is what we are trying to bring to our side.
“Alan knows the league and the situation and hopefully he can kick in here quickly.
“Along with Steven Gillespie, we hope he can improve our strikeforce, and then he will be a good signing.
“Football is full of surprises, and Eliot has not played every game for us. Sometimes we need to make these decisions, and his going to Exeter was part of the deal.
“We wanted to try and freshen up the squad, and we hope we have done that.
“We wish Eliot well for the rest of the season, and thank him for all he has done for us.”
The 31-year-old began his career with his hometown club Clydebank before moving to Airdrie United in 2002.
Gow then moved to Scottish Premier League club Falkirk in 2005, before earning a transfer to Rangers.
He failed to break into the Rangers first team, however, and after loan spells with Blackpool and Norwich City, he moved to Plymouth Argyle.
From Plymouth he was loaned to Hibernian and was then released from his contract during the 2010 close season. He then played for Motherwell and Notts County during the 2010–11 season.
Gow then joined Indian club East Bengal in August 2011, but a few months later he was back in the UK and he signed a deal with Exeter in March 2012.
Chairman Nick Higgs said: “We are delighted to bring Alan to the club. He is an experienced attacking player with a proven goal-scoring record.
“He is currently Exeter’s top goal scorer, and he has always stood out when he has played against us in the past.
“Eliot has been a good servant to the club, and we hope a spell away from the Memorial Stadium will be good for him, and allow him to recapture his form.
“We wish him all the best for the rest of the season.”
Gow will take squad number 16.