Antony Evans insists it was not a tough decision to commit his future to Bristol Rovers after starring in an incredible promotion campaign.
Playmaker Evans joined Rovers on the August transfer deadline last year and soon secured hero status at the Mem thanks to both his productivity and the panache with which he played, but Gasheads feared it could be just a fleeting stint with the club with his contract set to expire this month.
But the Gas clinched a three-year deal with the 23-year-old a fortnight ago, securing one of their crucial players ahead of their return to League One. Despite mulling his options, the scouser says his heart was always set on linking up with Rovers and Joey Barton again.
"(It’s) great," Evans told the club's website. "I took a little bit of time to think with my family about what would be the next step for me.
"But it wasn’t too much of a tough decision. It was head and heart and my heart was always saying to come back to Bristol and I’m glad I’ve done it."
Evans' words echo the sentiments of James Connolly, who was also interviewed by the club's media team on Monday after he also committed the next three years of his career to the Gas. Connolly said Rovers was the club for him at this stage in his career and Evans feels the same.
"It was the year I had, the reception from the fans, the relationship with the gaffer and the lads," he replied when asked why he chose to remain at the Mem. "It was special what we did last season and we want to see what we can do this season together."
The former SC Paderborn, Blackpool and Morecambe midfielder matured into a talisman for Rovers last season, ending the campaign with 10 goals and 11 assists in League Two, and his brilliant brace on the final day against Scunthorpe United was pivotal in the Gas overturning the goal difference deficit and sneaking into the automatic promotion places.
The numbers are hugely impressive and his status is only enhanced by the style with which he played. Evans' sublime goals against Barrow, Leyton Orient, Rochdale and Hartlepool will live long in the memory of supporters.
Evans has experience of playing in League One on loan at Crewe Alexandra in 2020/21 and he is not concerned by the step up in level when the season begins on July 31.
He said: "I’m not really bothered, it’s just more of the same from us and just kicking on from where we left off last year and see what we can do together as a team.
"We’ve seen some of the new lads in today. Hopefully, we can see a bit more of them throughout pre-season, get some games done and bond as a team and kick on again."
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