Sam Finley has unofficially confirmed that he will be leaving Bristol Rovers at the end of the season after three years at the football club via a post on social media.
The Rovers captain took to X on Sunday to post a picture with his fellow Scouse teammates Antony Evans, James Connolly and Jordan Rossiter as well as his two children with the caption: "Scouse mafia, it's been a pleasure" with heart and rollercoaster emojis.
Finley's future at the club beyond this campaign has been a discussion point for virtually its entirety given that his current deal expires this summer and it appears as though there is now an answer.
Although there hasn't been an official club confirmation regarding the skipper's pending departure yet with the retained list set to be published after this weekend's final match at Wigan Athletic, Club President Wael Al-Qadi replied to the post, "Thank you dear Sam, club captain, legend and leader - true to your word that you'd get us promoted when you first joined. See you soon mate."
The Gas captain has been absent from the past five matchday squads meaning that his final appearance for the club will have come in the goalless draw at home to Shrewsbury Town earlier this month, clocking the League Two promotion hero in at 121 appearances.
Finley was an integral part of the 2021/22 promotion winning team, his first season at the club, making 36 league appearances that campaign while contributing five goals and seven assists in the fourth tier as playing the full 90 minutes of the famous 7-0 win over Scunthorpe United to seal promotion in the most sensational of fashions.
He was also one of Joey Barton's first signings at the club, joining on a free transfer from Fleetwood Town and was announced on the same day as the arrivals of Nick Anderton, Paul Coutts and Mark Hughes.
Once again a regular fixture in Barton's side the following campaign playing 43 times across all competitions, the midfielder started to wear the armband more regularly whenever Coutts wasn't on the pitch before behind named club captain ahead of this season which has seen the 31-year-old feature in 38 games.
A leader on the pitch over the past three seasons whether he's worn the armband or not, Finley's contributions off the pitch to the club and community is what will especially make him a fondly remembered, stalwart custodian of Bristol Rovers with the skipper named Bristol Rovers Community Trust Community Champion for this term alongside Gas Girls forward Abi Hughes.
Elsewhere in the Rovers squad, it appears as though John Marquis will also be leaving the football club with the striker missing the past four games as Matt Taylor has started to show signs of who are and aren't in his plans for next season with his team selections of late.
Josh Grant is another player whose future is uncertain given that the defender hasn't featured since coming off the bench at Leyton Orient last month, although Taylor said after the defeat at Port Vale that his season was seemingly over due to injury. Whether or not that means his Rovers career is yet to be seen with Grant having the option of another year in his contract.
