Grecians and Gas forwards make loan switch
Exeter City and Bristol Rovers have agreed a two-way loan deal which will see Alan Gow and Eliot Richards switch clubs for the remainder of the 2013/14 season.
22-year-old Welshman Richards turned pro in 2009, having come through the youth ranks at the Pirates with a prolific goalscoring record. The young forward has gone on to represent Rovers on over 100 occasions, as well as representing his country at Under-19 level.
He also has experience of scoring at St James Park – Richards netted the winner for the Gas in the 2012/13 season as the visitors won 2-1, as well as bagging their first goal of the current campaign as City ultimately triumphed by the same scoreline.
Richards and Gow will both be eligible to represent their new clubs on Saturday when the loan window opens. Gow departs Exeter with the best wishes for the remainder of the season, and we extend our welcome to Richards to St James Park.
Grecians manager Paul Tisdale said: “Based on the current economic climate, the club is working hard to create funds to maintain the stability of Exeter City, and the board and I have collaborated to help save money by allowing Alan to join Bristol Rovers for the remainder of the season and that is the primary motivation behind the deal.
“As part of the arrangement, we have also had the opportunity to bring in another promising young player into our group with a view to the long term, which fits in seamlessly with our model of developing young players.
“So we wish Alan all the best for his time with Bristol Rovers, and we are looking forward to working with Eliot.”
The above is all subject to ratification by the Football Association and the Football League on Saturday morning.