Football Season Guide

Doncaster Rovers

In


Kyle Knoyle (Defender, Cambridge United); Ro-Shaun Williams (Defender, Shrewsbury Town); Ben Close (Midfielder, Portsmouth); Jordy Hiwula (Midfielder, Portsmouth); Matt Smith (Midfielder, Arsenal, Season-long loan); Tommy Rowe (Midfielder, Bristol City); Aidan Barlow (Attacker, Free agent); Tiago Cukur (Attacker, Watford, Season-long loan)

Out


Ellery Balcombe (sp) (Goalkeeper, Brentford, Loan ended); Ian Lawlor (Goalkeeper, Dundee - trial), Andy Butler (r) (Defender, Boston United); Brad Halliday (r) Defender, Fleetwood Town); Danny Amos (Defender, released); Reece James (r) (Defender, Blackpool); Elliot Simoes (Midfielder, Barnsley, Loan ended); Josh Sims (sp) (Midfielder, Southampton, Loan ended); Madger Gomes (Midfielder, released); James Coppinger (r) (Midfielder, retired); Jason Lokilo (sp) (Midfielder, released); Matt Smith (r) (Midfielder, Manchester City, Loan ended); Scott Robertson (sp) (Midfielder, Celtic, Loan ended); Taylor Richards (sp) (Midfielder, Brighton & Hove Albion, Loan ended); Tyreece John-Jules (Attacker, Arsenal, Loan ended)

Richie Wellens returns to the club he served with distinction as a midfield playmaker and will be hoping to repeat promotion to the Championship. That was achieved back in 2008 under the guidance of Sean O’Driscoll and the passing style of football is something Wellens has since looked to emulate as a manager. He has something to prove this season after a disappointing 2020/21 season. He jumped ship at crisis club Swindon Town just months after guiding them to the League Two title but was sacked after less than five months at Salford City. He takes over at a club that have endured a miserable 2021 so far. They were challenging at the top of League One before manager Darren Moore jumped ship to take over at Sheffield Wednesday and a downward spiral under caretaker Andy Butler saw them finish in the bottom half of the division. The summer saw the retirement of club stalwart and hero James Coppinger and he is just one of several key players that will need to be replaced. Several influential loanees have returned to their parent clubs whilst the loss of full-backs Brad Halliday and Reece James are big blows. Midfielder Tommy Rowe has returned from Bristol City, whilst Kyle Knoyle is a replacement for Halliday. Arsenal loanee Matt Smith impressed under Wellens at Swindon Town whilst Tiago Cukur will be looking to make his mark after signing on loan from Watford. More additions are expected as Wellens looks to build a squad capable of challenging for a play-off place.

Target


Play-offs. Rovers are yet another club with ambitions of finishing in the top six but they might need a season of stability before doing so.