Darrell Clarke’s side were one of twelve clubs handed a financial penalty for breaching competition Rule 7.3. by not starting with at least five players who started the league fixture immediately before or after the Trophy game.
The imposed fine is for substituting goalkeeper Kelle Roos in the second minute of the clubs final group game in the competition against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday 8th November.
The EFL have described the clubs actions taken on the night as a "transgression that was not within the spirit of the rules".
This is despite naming a side that included five players that played the clubs previous competitive fixture against Crawley Town in the First Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
On hearing that the club had received the fine, Darrell Clarke told us “I’m very disappointed in the situation we’ve been put in [by the EFL] as are many other clubs up and down the country.
"It has been a fantastic competition over the years but this season has been farcical. I do not like people telling me what players I can and can't pick.”
Experienced professionals such as Mark McChrystal and Lee Mansell were among the changes for the tie with the six combined changes accumulating around 850 Football League appearances among them.
The Rovers boss added “We didn’t exactly play youngsters at Portsmouth, we played vastly experienced first team players who we thought could win us the game.
“If there is someone sat behind a desk somewhere telling me which players I can and can't play then the game has gone wrong”.
See also...
- Rovers To Wear Poppies On Their Shirts This Weekend vs MK Dons
- Special Offer To All Service Men & Women For This Weekend's Game