Championship links raised Bristol Rovers hopes but 2009 arrival never lived up to the billing: View | OneFootball

Dominic Blizzard never hit the heights expected at the Memorial Ground

Plenty was expected of Dominic Blizzard when he joined Bristol Rovers in the summer of 2009, with The Gas winning the race for his signature following his release from Stockport County.

The midfielder had been part of the Hatters side that won promotion to League Two 12 months before, before looking like he was making the step up to the third tier with relative ease.

That left a number of clubs trying to get hold of his signature in the summer of 2009, as County looked resigned to losing their man due to financial difficulties surrounding the club.

Despite Championship interest, Blizzard opted for The Gas, but the excitement over his signing wouldn’t last for long, with Rovers likely regretting their decision after his move to the Memorial Ground.

Bristol Rovers see off Championship interest to sign Dominic Blizzard

There was said to be plenty of interest in Blizzard when his departure from Stockport was confirmed in the summer of 2009, with high-flying Championship side Blackpool said to be one of the clubs looking at bringing him aboard.

2008/09 League One playoff semi-finalists MK Dons were also rumoured to be linked to the then-25-year-old, who had spent a brief stint on loan with the newly-established side two years before.

But in the end the midfielder opted for a move to the West Country, with Gas boss Paul Trollope delighted to get the move for the former Watford man over the line:

He said at the time: “Dominic brings different attributes. He's a very good passer of the ball, can play in an attacking role or a defensive role.

"And he's a good footballer who fits in very nicely with the philosophy of how we want the game played.

"With Bosman signings the good ones are always sought after so we needed to be patient, the negotiations were pretty lengthy and we needed to sell him the club and the philosophy behind it."

Everything looked promising as the midfielder signed on the dotted line, with Rovers looking to kick on after a respectable mid-table finish the season before, but the reality was a much different story to the expectation.

Dominic Blizzard fails to impress during Bristol Rovers stint

While may were expecting a player who would help to take the club up another notch, Blizzard did nothing of the sort, with his performances failing to standout in a Rovers side who looked destined for mid-table once again.

Despite playing 38 times in the blue and white quarters during his first season with the club, the midfielder lacked the drive and ability that many were expecting upon his arrival, with just a single goal to show for his efforts in that first campaign.

Having signed a three-year contract, it looked as if Rovers had signed up to a player who was proving to be nothing better than what they already had at their disposal, with seemingly doing nothing much more than keeping possession ticking over.

Trollope had obviously run out of patience himself after that first season honeymoon period, with the Gas chief only giving the player seven run-outs before the end of January during his second campaign with the club, and effectively putting the writing on the wall about his future.

A loan move to Port Vale in League Two for the rest of the campaign summed up exactly what Rovers thought of the player at that time, although just one appearance for the Valiants also speaks volumes, while Rovers suffered relegation to the fourth tier.

With a year still left on his deal at the Memorial Ground, Blizzard had a decision to make: stay around in the hope of forcing a way back into the Rovers squad, or opt for a move away, and it would prove to be no surprise that he opted for the latter.

A move to Yeovil Town soon followed, where the midfielder soon looked back at home in League One, and a completely different player to the one that struggled to find a home with The Gas.

Looking back now, Blizzard never lived up to the expectations that Rovers fans had for him when he joined the club, and failed to step up to the plate as his side struggled in the league.

A disappointing transfer all round, and one Gas fans will probably wish never happened in the first place.