25/26 recruitment plan

[karlos]

Found this a interesting read.
https://offtheline599656488.wordpress.com/2025/05/08/2025-26-recruitment-plan-for-doncaster-rovers/

[The Dav]

Hull city relegated from the championship ! Decent read but factually incorrect.

[karlos]

Yes a few things incorrect i.e wilks still being at hull but I like the thinking.

[ncRover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

[dickos1]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

[mushRTID]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

You think/know we’re after wilkes?

[ncRover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

[ForsolongaRover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

Talented players whose contracts are about to end are obvious targets with numerous suitors and then a bidding war. McCann has previously gone for the lesser known ones who can be developed and surely for a club with limited resources this is the sensible way to go. Quite often the widely-known free agent will go for the better money at Championship level and hope to compete for a first team place there.

[Chris Black come back]

In a scenario where we did sign Wilks, he would be easily our highest paid player. If you are paying those huge sums, then he has to start. With a relatively limited budget we aren't going to be paying that out to double up on our strongest player. So you are then looking at him playing somewhere else, potentially not his most effective position.

[Padge_DRFC]

Left footed RW is our least priority right now

[dickos1]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

Talented players whose contracts are about to end are obvious targets with numerous suitors and then a bidding war. McCann has previously gone for the lesser known ones who can be developed and surely for a club with limited resources this is the sensible way to go. Quite often the widely-known free agent will go for the better money at Championship level and hope to compete for a first team place there.

Not always,
Sharp and wood for starters

[Bristol Red Rover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

You say that but has had probs the last two games. Most players will wear our with two much use. Like steering wheels, or soap.

[ForsolongaRover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

Talented players whose contracts are about to end are obvious targets with numerous suitors and then a bidding war. McCann has previously gone for the lesser known ones who can be developed and surely for a club with limited resources this is the sensible way to go. Quite often the widely-known free agent will go for the better money at Championship level and hope to compete for a first team place there.

Not always,
Sharp and wood for starters

I wouldn’t see either of these as illustrative or typical.

[anton123]

If he signed he would play down the centre as the forward but move on to the right if molly is ever out

[rich1471]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

because wilks has speed ,skill and is an upgrade on what we have

[GazLaz]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

I think we need four good wingers in L1. We have Gibson and Hurst for the left hand side. We need another for the right hand side.

It’s a much tougher assignment next season, we have flogged Bailey and Mols this season, I think we need good cover for them to share the minutes and be there for any potential injury/ drop off that may occur.

As we saw with Ironside, a monumental season doesn’t necessarily equate to the same output the following year. Not one for signing ex players but I’d certainly consider Wilks.

[ncRover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

I think we need four good wingers in L1. We have Gibson and Hurst for the left hand side. We need another for the right hand side.

It’s a much tougher assignment next season, we have flogged Bailey and Mols this season, I think we need good cover for them to share the minutes and be there for any potential injury/ drop off that may occur.

As we saw with Ironside, a monumental season doesn’t necessarily equate to the same output the following year. Not one for signing ex players but I’d certainly consider Wilks.

The left wing needs strengthening, particularly  given that left back may be an area of weakness for us next season too (Senior offensively and Maxwell defensively are concerns).
Molyneux just needs a back up / younger long term replacement. It’s been a season and half he’s been quality for now.

As of now, Hurst is miles off League One standard.
Gibson (although things clicked and he finished strongly) had an inconsistent season on the whole.

[Lytham Rover]

Won’t be signing Wilks

Why would we make him one of our best paid players who himself would expect to start every game when his position is that of our current best player?

I think you’ll be surprised

Molyneux is our best player and can play 90 mins Saturday / Tuesday.

Why would we need to make right wing the area for a big signing before other areas?

I think we need four good wingers in L1. We have Gibson and Hurst for the left hand side. We need another for the right hand side.

It’s a much tougher assignment next season, we have flogged Bailey and Mols this season, I think we need good cover for them to share the minutes and be there for any potential injury/ drop off that may occur.

As we saw with Ironside, a monumental season doesn’t necessarily equate to the same output the following year. Not one for signing ex players but I’d certainly consider Wilks.

The left wing needs strengthening, particularly  given that left back may be an area of weakness for us next season too (Senior offensively and Maxwell defensively are concerns).
Molyneux just needs a back up / younger long term replacement. It’s been a season and half he’s been quality for now.

As of now, Hurst is miles off League One standard.
Gibson (although things clicked and he finished strongly) had an inconsistent season on the whole.

Sometimes players do better when in a higher division as it is (slightly) less physical

Still think Hurst is quality and worth persevering with

[selby]

Grant looks happy with most of the contracted players, but we are light in quality midfielders and a striker, both areas that cost money to sign permanently but can be generally found in the loan market with premiership side's loaning out younger players for development.
 That is what we did this season and I would think the way we will go next season, with just one or two signed permanently if at the right price and out of contract.

[Alan Southstand]

You forgot about the keeper, Selby. Top priority I would have thought, closely followed by a striker (Roberto?). Then, I would think Joe and Tom getting deals and your man Faulkner. After that, but no less important, 2 CM’ers - 1 attacking and I defensive. A left sided winger/ wing back and another CB would complete my list.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I'm guessing we might get to know a little bit more by the end of this week now all the celebrating has been done.

Obviously the first priority is sorting out the five contract offers. Maybe some announcements this week once the details finalised and the videos recorded. Failing that, some indication from Grant when they're likely to be resolved by. Only then will he prioritise his next moves knowing what gaps there are to fill.

I would imagine he's done alot of groundwork and made contacts to assess what's possible and probable.

We know he doesn't like to be kept waiting so things could move quite quickly, just as last summer. He also has the advantage of not having to bother with the play offs.

Another thing we should bear in mind is how significant January was in the last two seasons when we acquired players who really kicked us on to superb strong finishes. The summer window is about reinforcing the strong foundations to keep us competitive, where as the icing on the cake might come later.

[DonnyOsmond]

I'm guessing we might get to know a little bit more by the end of this week now all the celebrating has been done.

Obviously the first priority is sorting out the five contract offers. Maybe some announcements this week once the details finalised and the videos recorded. Failing that, some indication from Grant when they're likely to be resolved by. Only then will he prioritise his next moves knowing what gaps there are to fill.

I would imagine he's done alot of groundwork and made contacts to assess what's possible and probable.

We know he doesn't like to be kept waiting so things could move quite quickly, just as last summer. He also has the advantage of not having to bother with the play offs.

Another thing we should bear in mind is how significant January was in the last two seasons when we acquired players who really kicked us on to superb strong finishes. The summer window is about reinforcing the strong foundations to keep us competitive, where as the icing on the cake might come later.

He can already crack on with the TSL, Crew, Wood and Street shaped gaps that need filling.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I'm guessing we might get to know a little bit more by the end of this week now all the celebrating has been done.

Obviously the first priority is sorting out the five contract offers. Maybe some announcements this week once the details finalised and the videos recorded. Failing that, some indication from Grant when they're likely to be resolved by. Only then will he prioritise his next moves knowing what gaps there are to fill.

I would imagine he's done alot of groundwork and made contacts to assess what's possible and probable.

We know he doesn't like to be kept waiting so things could move quite quickly, just as last summer. He also has the advantage of not having to bother with the play offs.

Another thing we should bear in mind is how significant January was in the last two seasons when we acquired players who really kicked us on to superb strong finishes. The summer window is about reinforcing the strong foundations to keep us competitive, where as the icing on the cake might come later.

He can already crack on with the TSL, Crew, Wood and Street shaped gaps that need filling.

Not necessarily until you know about Olowu, Sharp, Anderson, Lawlor so he knows the extent of funds available. But yes, he may already have plans A & B ready depending on those outcomes

[Chris Black come back]

If we wanted to prioritise quality over quantity, if all the offered contracts are re-signed, then we would only need to recruit a keeper, central midfielder, right winger and striker. They will likely be a mix of loans and permanents. If Street was a permanent signing, you could rely on loans for the rest.

[Chris Black come back]

That minimalist approach would deliver the below and you could argue that one of Close and Westbrooke could potentially leave and the midfield would still have enough numbers:


New keeper
Lawlor
Oram

Sterry
Nixon
Anderson
Olowu
McGrath
Faulkner
Senior
Maxwell

New central midfielder
Broadbent
Clifton
Bailey
Close
Westbrooke
Sbarra

Molyneux
New right winger
Gibson
Hurst

Sharp
Ironside
Street

[selby]

  Alan, with Anderson Olowu and Faulkner I would give it only 50/50 chances of any of them staying, and could would not be the clubs decision if they leave.
  I hope they all stay as getting as good or better is going to cost and only in Faulkner's case could the club look to get something back in a transfer fee him being under 24 and having a contract offered which they are negotiating at the moment I suppose.

[ForsolongaRover]

I'm guessing we might get to know a little bit more by the end of this week now all the celebrating has been done.

Obviously the first priority is sorting out the five contract offers. Maybe some announcements this week once the details finalised and the videos recorded. Failing that, some indication from Grant when they're likely to be resolved by. Only then will he prioritise his next moves knowing what gaps there are to fill.

I would imagine he's done alot of groundwork and made contacts to assess what's possible and probable.

We know he doesn't like to be kept waiting so things could move quite quickly, just as last summer. He also has the advantage of not having to bother with the play offs.

Another thing we should bear in mind is how significant January was in the last two seasons when we acquired players who really kicked us on to superb strong finishes. The summer window is about reinforcing the strong foundations to keep us competitive, where as the icing on the cake might come later.

As a complete aside, I have heard the view quite widely expressed that little is achieved in the January window and McCann has conclusively disproved that. Obviously it comes down to the choices that are made and I expect that if the proposition were examined closely it may well have never held.

[Alan Southstand]

  Alan, with Anderson Olowu and Faulkner I would give it only 50/50 chances of any of them staying, and could would not be the clubs decision if they leave.
  I hope they all stay as getting as good or better is going to cost and only in Faulkner's case could the club look to get something back in a transfer fee him being under 24 and having a contract offered which they are negotiating at the moment I suppose.

I think I get what you’re saying, so Anderson staying is 50/50 etc for the others? Of course, if they all leave it’s going to give the manager a bigger problem than what he probably expects. Out of the 5 though, it has to be said that perhaps only 2 of them are what we might deem first teamers, I.e Anderson and Olowu. BS isn’t really a 90 minute man anymore but he’d be in any squad I’d pick.

Yes, it’ll cost to replace them, but it’ll also cost to keep them, so what’s the difference? Let’s face it, they’re all ‘replaceable’, by definition they have to be, otherwise we’re down on numbers. The thing is GM has already made it clear that we’re not going into L1 with the thought of ‘making up the numbers’. So, if players leave they will have to be replaced and, in some respects, you’d think whoever comes in will need to be as good, if not better than what we had!

Grant has done a good job, so far, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

A bit more info about TSL and the other loanees.

https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-transfer-update-on-premier-league-loanee-who-starred-in-promotion-success-5127827

[Alan Southstand]

I think Ricky may be having his typing fingers rapped for putting that out. I notice drfc have asked for a dm with him?