Ex-Rovers man signs until the end of the season!
Rovers Chairman Nick Higgs today welcomed midfielder Chris Lines back to the club and said; “It’s great that we have been able to bring Chris back to Bristol Rovers.“He has developed as a player since leaving us almost four years ago and has played in the Championship and League One and I’m sure that the experience he has gained in his time away will be of huge benefit to us.
“The loss of Stuart Sinclair through injury means that we are lacking a creative midfield player and he is just the kind of playmaker we need. I’m looking forward to seeing him link up with Jermaine Easter as we go into the final eight games of the season.
“I understand that he has closely followed the fortunes of the club since he left, and a lack of game time at Port Vale recently means that he is keen to play first team football on a regular basis again. We are delighted to be able to offer him that opportunity and feel that he will help us regain our Football League status.
“He has signed on loan until the end of the season and that loan can be extended to cover the play offs should it be necessary.”
Manager Darrell Clarke had this to say following the signing of a player who has now appeared in over 300 first class games; “I am very pleased that we have acquired the services of an experienced player of Chris’ calibre.
“He knows the club well and is keen to return to help us with our promotion push and I look forward to welcoming him back to the Memorial Stadium.”
The midfielder, who made his Rovers debut in January 2006, went on to score 21 goals in 158 league appearances before leaving to join Sheffield Wednesday for a fee of £50,000 in August 2011.
He was at Hillsborough for two years and scored three goals in 47 league games for the Owls, and also spent time on loan with MK Dons, where he made 16 league appearances between January and April 2013.
July 2013 saw him move on to Port Vale and in almost two years at Vale Park he has scored three goals in 61 league appearances.