Bristol Rovers chairman Ron Craig is confident that the club will be challenging for promotion from League One next season.

The Pirates finished 16th in their first campaign back in the third tier last term, a position owing much to their historic FA Cup run and the subsequent fixture congestion that came with reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.

Rovers have strengthened their squad with the addition of Jeff Hughes from Crystal Palace and with more signings in the pipeline, Craig has backed the club's management duo of Paul Trollope and Lennie Lawrence to bring success to the Memorial Stadium.

"I feel we are going to have a squad capable of challenging for honours in League One," Craig told the club's official website.

"We have made money available to Paul and Lennie and they have already taken advantage of this by bringing in Jeff Hughes, who looks to be an excellent addition to the squad.

"Paul and Lennie are also looking to bring in another couple of players, including a striker, and I feel this will give us a strong group of players."