00:00With Bristol City having employed a new head coach in Gerhard Struber, who's arrived from FC Cologne in Germany,
00:09Bristol City as a club are now trying to establish which direction they want to go in in terms of their squad.
00:15Now, last season, Rob Atkinson spent on loan at Portsmouth, also in the Championship,
00:21but now he is back at Ashton Gate and hoping to prove just what he can do.
00:27He's now signed a new contract extension and is raring to get going again at the Robins.
00:33It seems to take its time, but I'm really happy to be home and to get the deal done.
00:40It's obviously been a tough couple of years for yourself, so it must feel extra special to get this sorted.
00:46Yeah, it's been honestly some of the hardest times I've had to endure, not only as a footballer, but off the pitch as well.
00:53So, to sort of see the back of that and sort of, I kind of see this as like a fresh start almost,
01:00it helps that there's a new manager coming in, so it's all going to hopefully come together for me.
01:06It's been not the most productive of times for me, for Bristol City, but I'm looking to rekindle it and start it again almost.
01:15I keep getting told it. New signing, he's here. It does feel like I'm a new signing, ultimately, and hopefully I can have that sort of effect.
01:25Looking back, you spent the second half of last season on loan at Portsmouth. How did you find that experience?
01:30Incredible, yeah. Honestly, when I was deciding whether I wanted to go out on loan, I was so unsure.
01:37I was so unsure just about the whole idea of it. It was a big risk and Pompey were brilliant and decided to go with it.
01:49And I like to think that I returned the favour and I'll always be grateful to that magnificent club for offering me that opportunity.
01:59And I'll always be proud about the fact that I've played for the club. But I'm happy to be back. I'm looking forward to starting that relationship up with the fans here.
02:10I'm excited. I know everyone. I've seen a few people today. I've seen a couple of the staff members.
02:17So it's starting to sort of dawn on me the excitement of next season. So I can't wait.
02:24In the past few weeks, the weather's been good. You've been in the off-season.
02:27How have you spent it? A rest and recovery or a bit of a mix and loads of other stuff?
02:32I think the main thing about this off-season, I've tried to enjoy it.
02:36I've not been fortunate enough to have an off-season where I've not been in.
02:41I've been in the training ground a lot the last few years.
02:44So this is the first one that I've actually had to myself.
02:46So I've always tried to remind myself that I'm on holiday.
02:50It is the off-season, so I've just tried to enjoy it as much as possible.
02:54Oh, I've been said that. It's still gone very quick.
02:59I've been working hard. I know I have to now.
03:01It's sort of a given with what's happened to me that I have to sort of stay on top of myself
03:07and look after my body because football's a short career
03:11and I need to maximise myself in order to give it everything come the start of the season.
03:17You mentioned it already, a new head coach announced last week.
03:21How much are you looking forward to working with him?
03:22Very much so. I've already had a chat with him
03:25and the idea of working with him is really exciting actually
03:29and I thought it was important to contact him before signing this deal
03:35because I wanted to ensure that I was part of the plans
03:38and he very much reassured me that I was.
03:42He's passionate, he's energetic
03:44and hopefully he can sort of add his own twist onto the club
03:49which I'm very much looking forward to being part of.
03:53It was obviously a good end to the season here at Bristol City as well.
03:56I imagine you were still in touch with many of the lads here.
03:58Yes, a lot of them.
03:59It was nice actually to sort of watch as a fan
04:03and I was really, really enjoying it
04:05and sort of I loved watching whenever City were on.
04:09I'd always watch and whenever lads would score
04:11I'd send them messages and whenever they'd do well
04:13I'd make sure they knew they'd done well.
04:15Unfortunate that it sort of ended the way it had
04:17but I'm sure the lads are proud of what they achieved
04:21and hopefully, I've not spoken to many of them
04:23but hopefully they feel that they can kick on another level come this season.
04:28I'm very much looking forward to it.
04:29You must be so excited to be part of that dressing room again,
04:31part of that squad.
04:33Yes, as I said, I've seen a few
04:34and it is really good to be back
04:36and seeing some of the lads and talking to them
