Evans 'more likely' to extend Bristol Rovers stay

Evans: 'That will resolve itself sooner rather than later'

Sophie HurcomBBC Sport England and Richard HoskinBBC Radio Bristol

Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans has said it is "more likely" he will be at the club next season having moved the Gas clear of the League Two relegation zone.

Evans was appointed in December on a deal until the summer, with Rovers deep in trouble and on a 10-match losing streak in the bottom two.

He has since picked up 26 points from the 19 games that followed (eight wins, two draws, nine losses), to move the Gas 13 points clear of relegation with seven games to go.

The 62-year-old said he had interest from three other clubs about next season but following a long conversation with chairman Hussain AlSaeed last weekend he has put a stop to them.

"I'll be meeting up with him [AlSaeed] early part of next week," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol. "We'll talk about what's right for the football club and what's right for me.

"The chairman said enough in that long telephone conversation for me to instruct the people that look after me to stop talking to three other clubs."

Rovers have won four of their past seven league games with their only defeat against league leaders Bromley, to move up to 17th.

Evans credited the signings the club made in January with being a big part of their change in fortunes - on loan Bradford City midfielder Tommy Leigh has scored four goals in seven games, while Tottenham winger Yusuf Akhamrich has four goals and two assists in 13 games during his loan spell so far.

Rovers take on Accrington at home on Saturday (15:00 GMT) and Evans said two more wins would likely be enough to secure their league status for next season.

"When you strengthen the way we did in January and the players we brought in I always expected an upturn in form," he said.

"If we've got two wins it's going to take some unbelievable form and results from others to make it not mathematical, but we've got to keep our focus on Accrington."

Evans added that while he AlSaeed is "well aware" of the progress that the team has made since the start of the year, this was the first time he had discussed his future with him.

"The chairman said he wanted to go into that meeting next week with a very clear objective that I come out and am going to be here longer," Evans said.

"But we have to have that meeting and get everything on the table."