Modern Bristol Rovers hero offers verdict on managerial situation and goal-scoring issues

Lee Mansell was speaking on BBC Radio Bristol after Bristol Rovers' 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient

Former Bristol Rovers player and BBC Radio Bristol commentator Lee Mansell has stated that the football club need to make a final decision on their managerial appointment soon with the uncertainty clearly now reaching the players.

The Gas drew 1-1 with Leyton Orient at the Mem on Tuesday evening, conceding a 93rd minute equaliser after having a one-nil lead for the vast majority of the second half. However, a draw was probably the fair result with Orient dominating possession and Rovers struggling to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Caretaker manager Andy Mangan admitted in his post-match press conference that his players have been affected by the ongoings off the pitch and, after a flat display, Mansell offered his verdict on the current situation at the club.

Speaking on BBC Radio Bristol after the draw with Leyton Orient, the former Gas favourite said: "I think you have a lack of stability throughout the football club and I also think it transcends and I think now we're starting to see it because it's taken so long, we haven't heard anything of note from the hierarchy at Bristol Rovers. I mean, first and foremost, who's making the decision? Is Tom Gorringe making the decision? Is the new owner making the decision? No one knows.

"That indecision, that instability also breeds into the terraces as well. There is a nervous edge about being at Rovers. The last game I was here, there was a lack of atmosphere, something that you're not used to at Rovers games. I think the longer it goes on the more unstable everything will become. If they're going to appoint someone it probably needs to happen now.

"That new manager now is going to have four weeks, potentially five games to have a good look at this squad and he's going to know what he wants in January to then catapult the really good squad that's already here to get into the play-offs. Like I said, they've got some really good talent there. They've got some good boys and good characters but for whatever reason it's not clicking at this moment in time.

"Whether it's ability, I don't know. Whether they turn around to Andy and say you are now the manager. You get to do what you need to do, we're going to back you or go and find someone different. It has gone on too long now."

Mansell, who will go down as a modern legend at the club for scoring the winning penalty in the Conference play-off final to secure promotion to League Two in 2015, can be regularly heard on BBC Radio Bristol commentating on matches and has witnessed a good chunk of the season so far first-hand.

It's no secret that the current squad has the individual quality and experience to push for a top-six finish and there have been glimpses of what they're capable of on the pitch with the 4-1 victory over Wigan Athletic in September arguably the best example. However, once again on Tuesday evening Rovers looked disjointed in the final third with partnerships and chemistry still looking as though they're yet to form.

Whether Mangan is handed the job on a permanent basis or a new figure comes through the door, working on the fluidity in attack will have to be a priority with Mansell highlighting the lack of chances as an issue and calling for quicker play.

"Rovers just couldn't get up the pitch for whatever reason," the former Gas player declared. "You're playing with a solitary striker up front so every time there was a clearance, sometimes it was two against one but the ball would just get recycled and come back quicker. Rovers didn't have any dominance in terms of possession of the football even with that, you need that ball to advance up the pitch and they are reluctant to play into channels which can alleviate the pressure.

"The vast majority of times it gives defenders opportunity to advance up the pitch but for whatever reason Rovers couldn't get out and were, what we thought, happy to sit on that defensive line and nick the one-nil win and ultimately if you allow a team, no matter who they're playing against, to continue to raid your goal, you're going to concede one after a matter of time and that's what happened to Rovers.

"I don't know if that's because they're feeding off scraps or the opportunities they're getting aren't going into the back of the net. It's been an Achilles heel for Rovers in the games that I've watched and it's been really frustrating becuase they do like this tippy-tappy style of football and listen, it looks pleasing on the eye, it's good, but I'm watching some of these forward runs that the strikers are making, Jevani Brown has made a few today, as a midfield player, you get your head up and you can see him, he's making decent runs in behind. Other players, coming into the pocket.

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"I'd just like to see them play quicker because the centre-forwards sometimes are having to make two or three movements to get on the ball. Crosses, deliveries into the box, we've seen today and especially on Saturday where Chris Martin on his heels, Aaron Collins on his heels on Saturday and this evening, Harvey Vale down this left-hand side delivering. He's on FM and Chris Martin's on AM. There just doesn't seem to be that sort of link in that attacking threat whatsoever.

"You just need your creative players to just show a little bit more. It just looks as though they're playing within themselves and playing within the structure which is lovely but ultimately that's not going to win you games of football. Coming out of that structure, showing your own unique flair to get on and win a game. Take a game by the scruff of the neck.

"I'd like to see them shoot from the edge of the box a bit more. Grant Ward has one, off balance, lovely technique, ends up in the back of the net. I'd just like to see that a bit more. Just mix the game up in that attacking sense because all it seems to do at the moment is ball goes out wide, cross into the box, can we go and score? Or if we're going to be in and around the 18-yard box, we're going to play three or four passes and then try a little intricate one and try feed it in that way. But teams get back into shape and make it really hard for Rovers to break down so they need to mix up their game in that attacking third."