Jack Hunt: 'I'm gutted for Bristol Rovers fans, they never saw me with a real run at it'

Now-former Bristol Rovers right-back Jack Hunt has opened up on his two-year spell at the Mem after he was confirmed as one of 15 players released earlier this month

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

18:00, 28 May 2025

Jack Hunt pictured during his time at Bristol Rovers(Image: Will Cooper/PPAUK)

Former Bristol Rovers right-back Jack Hunt has lifted the lid on his turbulent two-year spell at the Mem following his departure earlier this month, admitting that he is “gutted” for the supporters following relegation to League Two.

The 34-year-old made 48 appearances for the Gas, playing under three different permanent bosses having signed for Joey Barton in the summer of 2023.

Hunt had already spent time in Bristol, spending three seasons on the red side with Bristol City, before returning to Sheffield Wednesday for a third spell in 2021. The right-back arrived in north Bristol having just helped the Owls to promotion back into the Championship via the play-offs and, although getting into the second tier with the Pirates would have been a hell of an achievement, he was pitched an ambitious project led by then-manager Barton who was sacked within a few months and replaced by Matt Taylor.

“He’d convinced me,” Hunt confessed in an interview with the Sheffield Star. “In an ideal world I didn’t really want to go that far but once you get into your 30s it’s about enjoying your football for however long you can carry on for. I felt I could do that there. I felt the strengths of how he had the team suited me and aligned with how I wanted to play as well.

“If the kids had been any younger I wouldn’t have even considered it. The schedule changed and that was tough. We spoke about allowing me time to get up and spend some time with them but it didn’t happen in the end.

“I went down as part of one project and you don’t really know what to expect from the next one. The schedule was a big thing under Joey as that would allow us to go back up to check in with the family a bit. But everyone has their own ways on how they want to work and under Matt that schedule changed. I’d missed pre-season, I was always playing catch-up and I got a couple of injuries. It was difficult to catch a rhythm.”

Although said injury issues prevented the right-back from a consistent run of games in his first campaign in blue-and-white quarters, Hunt ended the 2023/24 season with 27 appearances as the Gas laboured to an underwhelming 15th place finish.

That summer was always set to see a significant overhaul with it the first full window under the Kuwaiti ownership while it was Rovers’ new recruitment team’s, led by freshly-appointed director of football George Friend, first real test.

16 players arrived as part of a major recruitment effort with an emphasis on younger profiles who were handed lengthy deals. It was also Taylor’s first extended transfer window in charge of the Pirates.

At 33, Hunt didn’t fit that profile and, according to the former Rovers man, an exit had been sanctioned by the club that summer. But, for whatever reason, a move was never finalised.

Jack Hunt made 48 appearances for Bristol Rovers during his two seasons at the club(Image: Jake Manuell/PPAUK)

“I’d never had it so transparent that a club wanted to move on and that was great for me,” the current free agent admitted. “I wanted to move back north to my family.

“Out of respect I won’t name the club, but a northern team came in for me late on. Bristol Rovers said I couldn’t go. I obviously expressed my desire to get it done and the next day I got a text early in the morning saying I would be getting changed and training alone. I probably should have asked more questions, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on. They obviously didn’t want me around the group, which is fine, but to turn down an opportunity to get me out it didn’t sit right with me if I’m really honest.”

A move never materialised and Hunt had to subsequently wait until October 1 to get his first run out of that season. Pressure on Taylor was significant after a run of five defeats in six matches with rumours circulating that a loss in the next game against Charlton Athletic would have marked the end of his tenure in BS7 after less than a year. Hunt started, shone and helped Rovers to a 3-2 victory.

By the time the January window had opened, Taylor had lost his job in the December and was replaced by Inigo Calderon, who had been manager of Brighton and Hove Albion’s Under-18s. Hunt had also played just four more games. Prior to the Spaniard’s arrival, Hunt had been asked by interim boss Dave Horseman to assist him in the dugout for the home draw against Wrexham.

The 34-year-old didn’t feature under Calderon until he was handed a start against Peterborough United, a day before deadline day. Rovers won 3-1.

Bristol Live understands that there had been interest in Hunt during the January window but, again, nothing materialised and the right-backed looked set to see out the remainder of his contract in BS7.

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For the first time in over a year, the defender was playing regular football as he started 13 of the Gas’ final 19 games. With 10 matches to go, it looked as though Rovers were on course to seal survival after a 3-2 home win against Bolton Wanderers. However, Calderon’s side went on to pick up just one more point as they plunged into the bottom four and were ultimately relegated.

“It’s so difficult, not only for the club but for me personally,” Hunt reflected. “I’d obviously played for the other side of the city and so you just want to get off to a good start and get some rhythm going, get a rapport going with the fans. I’m gutted for them and they never saw me with a real run at it. It was so bit-part, you might have half the fanbase thinking I was injury prone or whatever, maybe half that had a bit more of an understanding.

“I played a part from January onwards and it was sad we couldn’t stay in the league. There are so many factors to why Bristol Rovers are a League Two club now, it’s hard to put it to one thing. I’m just sorry for the supporters.”

Having played over 500 games during his career, with most of them coming in the Championship, Rovers did not get to see the best of Hunt during his two-year spell.

Now, after being one of 15 players to be released at the end of the season, the right-back will enjoy some much-needed family time ahead of finding a new club.

“I’m really hungry and I’ve got a lot of fire in my belly over what I’ve experienced in the last 12 or 18 months,” he added. “I would definitely like to be somewhere I feel wanted and I want to be part of a good environment, that’s the main thing for me. I want to play as high as I can and I just want to play football. I’ll enjoy my summer, but I’ll be training really hard to make sure I’m ready to prove a point.”

Jack Hunt: ‘I’m gutted for Bristol Rovers fans, they never saw me with a real run at it’

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