'It's not been dull' - New faces at Forest Green but old ways remain before Bristol Rovers test

The League Two promotion race was a distinctly South West affair last season with all three sides gaining an automatic pathway into the third tier being from the region: Bristol Rovers, Exeter City and league champions Forest Green Rovers.

There was, as a result, an interesting rivalry between long-standing neighbours but never true adversaries. Granted, we’re not exactly talking a vociferous derby-like atmosphere, but there was something extra to games between the teams.

That is likely to continue and be further enhanced over the next nine months given their position now in League One and the fact that a familiar fixture from last term greets Rovers on July 30 for the first game of the new campaign.

However, while lots at the Gas has remained the same - Joey Barton, his staff and the bulk of the playing squad - Forest Green are a different (plant-based) animal altogether, with a new head coach and a set of new players but with the same mindset and methodology as before.

To guide us through what the Gas should expect from their opponents on Saturday, we spoke to Laurie Martin, former Gloucestershire Live Forest Green reporter and now of the Press Association.

Where to start? After the high of winning the League Two title in dramatic fashion on May 7, the next few weeks proved to be eventful. Director of football Rich Hughes, the mastermind behind Forest Green’s success in recent years, was heavily linked with Portsmouth on May 9. After a conversation with Dale Vince, Hughes chose to stay at Forest Green despite interest from Pompey.

A day later, reports started emerging that Watford were in advanced talks with head coach Rob Edwards. Things moved very quickly and Edwards was announced as their new boss. Vince