West Country (E) Bristol Rovers News

The redevelopment of the Memorial Stadium as a Sainsbury's superstore has come a step closer with the signing of a planning document.

It paves the way for work to start on Bristol Rovers' new ground at Stoke Gifford in South Gloucestershire. Work to build the £40million stadium on land at the University of the West of England will begin after a three month Judicial Review.

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Bristol Rovers have announced that manager John Ward has agreed a new “one-year rolling” contract.

Chairman Nick Higgs told the club's official website: “I am delighted to have agreed a contract with John to remain at Bristol Rovers.

“He has done a fantastic job over the last four months, completely changing ourfortunes and helping to retain our league status."

In the 22 games since Ward took charge on December 17th, Rovers have recorded 12 wins and lost just five times.

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The weekend's West Country football and rugby fixture card has already suffered because of cold weather and snow.

Bristol Rovers' League Two match at Bradford has been postponed.

The pitch, which has been covered since Wednesday, remains in good condition. However, the amount of snow that has already fallen and drifted into the stands makes the situation potentially dangerous. With the forecast for more heavy snow over the next 24 hours, after taking advice from the Club and local agencies, the Football League have taken the decision to postpone the game. No new date for the fixture has yet been agreed.

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The Communities Secretary Erics Pickles has tonight approved a decision to let Sainsbury's build a new supermarket at the current site of Bristol Rovers Footabll Club.

That approval means that Rovers can now proceed with their joint scheme with the University of the West of England to build a new stadium on the UWE Campus in South Gloucestershire.

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Former Bristol Rovers player George Petherbridge has died, aged 85.

The outside right scored 85 goals in 457 league games for Rovers in the late 1940s and 1950s.

He later became a sports teacher at Millfield School groundsman at Wells Cathedral School.

A full obituary can be found on the Bristol Rovers website.

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Bristol Rovers must wait until next month before learning if Sainsbury's bid to build on their Memorial Ground home has been approved. Bristol City Council has already given the go-ahead and the Department for Communities and Local Government was expected to rule today.

But Secretary of State Eric Pickles MP has asked for more time before making a judgement. Rovers are ready to start work this summer on a new stadium in Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire, on land owned by the University of the West of England.

Sainsbury's were controversially given city council permission to build a supermarket on Rovers' present Horfield site despite a campaign by local independent shopkeepers who said their trade and the wider community would be harmed.

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Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is expected to make his decision on Sainsbury's bid to build on the Rovers' Memorial Stadium today.

Bristol City Council have already approved the scheme, which would see over 60 homes built on the site and Bristol Rovers move to a new £40 million pound stadium in Filton.

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Bristol City have lost 2 - 1 to Crystal Palace, making it their sixth consecutive away defeat. Bristol Rovers lost 2 - 1 at home to Rotherham United in League Two.

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