Exclusive: Bristol Rovers set to sign former Exeter City forward Jevani Brown

Jevani Brown is poised to become Bristol Rovers’ third signing of the summer

Bristol Rovers are closing in on the signing of Jevani Brown on a free transfer, Bristol Live understands. The former Exeter City forward is due to stand trial next month for allegedly assaulting a woman.

Brown is available following his release at League One rivals Exeter having been named the Grecians’ Player of the Year. He didn’t play for the club following his arrest on February 2 but did continue to train with the squad.

The 28-year-old has admitted one charge of assaulting a woman and pleaded not guilty to a second count regarding a different woman and will appear before Exeter Magistrates Court on July 7.

He was officially suspended in February during a career-best season in which he scored 12 goals and added nine assists, with his overall goal involvements at that time only behind Rovers striker Aaron Collins and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland across the Premier League and EFL.

It’s understood that Rovers have been working on the deal since the end of last season and Brown has visited The Quarters to meet with club officials and agree personal terms. He is set to become the Gas’ third signing of the summer after James Wilson and Luke Thomas.

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell admitted at the end of May, after Brown’s release was confirmed, that the club could move to re-sign him depending on the outcome of his legal issues. He told BBC Radio Devon: “As a footballer he’s a fantastic player and he’s contributed a lot to this club this season. But obviously his off-field problems have stopped him playing for the second half of the season, so we need to see how that develops.”

Championship side Rotherham United have also long coveted Brown but manager Matt Taylor, who worked with him during his time at Exeter, admitted to the Rotherham Advertiser earlier this month he was waiting to see how off-field events would unfold.

It’s unclear whether Exeter or Rotherham made Brown an offer but Rovers are increasingly confident they’ve secured the former Colchester and Cambridge player on a long-term contract and he’s set to follow Wilson and Thomas by joining Joey Barton’s squad for the first week of pre-season at The Quarters.

Brown had also seen a January deadline day move to Portsmouth collapse after a fee was agreed between the two clubs but Pompey, who Rovers face on the opening day of the 2023/24 season, are not thought to have returned with an approach for the forward.

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Goals from Scott Sinclair and John Marquis were the difference as Rovers claimed a hard-fought win over the hosts.

Eastleigh started the game brightly, as Kaya Tshaka crashed an effort into the side-netting in the third minute.

A few minutes later, Sinclair shot straight at Joe McDonnell for his first test in the game.

Sam Finley then fired over, as the visitors began to create a series of chances in the opening 10 minutes of play.

Jevani Brown raced clear and was through one-on-one with McDonnell, but the goalkeeper won the ball cleanly and cleared away any danger.

Rovers broke away in the 27th minute, and some nice interplay between Brown and Aaron Collins led to Sinclair tapping in from close range.

Five minutes before the break, Ryan Loft dragged an effort wide of the mark, as the visitors continued to search for a second goal.

Just before the half, Grant Ward fizzed a shot wide for the visitors as they continued to pile the pressure on.

The second half started at a frantic pace, as Charlie Carter rattled the crossbar with his first touch of the ball, having just entered the action.

Oscar Rutherford’s pace down the right-hand side caused problems for the visitors at the back, as he sent in a teasing cross which went behind for a corner.

Rutherford continued to pose a threat down the right, but the Rovers defence dealt with his crosses well.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 64th minute, when Luca Hoole played in a fine cross from the right for Marquis to slot in from close range.

Marquis then played in Luke McCormick with a fine ball, but McDonnell saved well to prevent a third goal.

That proved to be the final big chance of the match, as the visitors saw out an impressive win in Hampshire.

Eastleigh (first half): McDonnell, Clampin, Atangana, Martin, McCallum, Barlow, Hodson, Trialist A, Tshaka, Bragg, Yang

Subs: Scott, Stock, Trialist D, Trialist E, Chalwell

Bristol Rovers (first half): J.Ward, Gibbons, Wilson, Connolly, Jones, Finley, G.Ward, Sinclair, Brown, Collins, Loft

Eastleigh (second half): McDonnell (71), Carter, Taylor, Boldewijn, Langston, Trialist (65), Nwaboukei, Trialist, Trialist, Rutherford, Bragg

Subs: Simpson (65), Stock, Trialist, Trialist, Chalwell, Scott (71)

Bristol Rovers (second half): Belshaw, Gibbons, Hoole, Friend, Jones, Evans, Kurtaran, McCormick, Thomas, Marquis, Greenslade