THE worst kept secret in football was finally out this week as Paul Buckle was confirmed as Rovers’ new manager.

Speculation had been rife since the end of the season that the Torquay United boss was the preferred choice of the board.

Fans have been on tenterhooks for some time as the Gulls’ play-off campaign delayed any announcement.

But the rumours proved to be correct as the 40-year-old wasted no time following Torquay’s defeat to Stevenage on Saturday by quickly putting pen to paper for the Pirates.

His appointment has been widely welcomed by Gasheads, who are keen to embark on a new era and put the miserable memory of relegation behind them.

Buckle has achieved wonders at Plainmoor on a shoestring budget, having guided the Gulls back to the Football League in his second season there and brought them to the brink of another promotion in his fourth and final year this season.

He is bright, ambitious and has a reputation for playing attacking football that is entertaining to watch, which is music to the ears of Rovers fans.

Buckle should have been appointed in January after Paul Trollope’s sacking but the board dithered and ended up selecting Penney, probably because he was out of work and therefore a cheaper option.

That decision was to cost us our League One status, but now the directors have got it right and plenty of optimism has returned ahead of the new season.

Lots of new players need to be recruited to fill key positions all over the pitch, giving the new manager plenty of options to build his own team.

Nick Higgs has already said that he will have one of the largest budgets in League Two so it will be an interesting summer seeing who arrives.

The chairman has also hinted at announcements during the next month about the direction the club is heading in, which has led to rumours that news of the stadium redevelopment could be imminent.

If the long-awaited confirmation of its progress is delivered, coupled with the high hopes that Buckle’s Pirates will entertain us next season, then the feel-good factor will definitely be back at the Memorial Stadium.

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