Boss has no money to spend
THE transfer deadline passed by quietly for Doncaster Rovers this week with only teenager Josh Payne moving out on loan.
And the prospect of Sean O'Driscoll strengthening his squad looks slim as the Doncaster boss frankly told the Free Press - "we haven't got any money to spend".
Despite supporters continuing to speculate about further cash signings O'Driscoll said: "I don't know why people have got the idea that we can go and splash out on this or that player.
"We just don't have the funds - even for a loan signing.
"I dare say that if someone we really liked became available temporarily I could go to the directors and make out a special case for a loan deal.
"But other than that we just don't have the money for signings."
Rovers were reported to be linked with a move for former Rangers striker Alan Gow but O'Driscoll said he had been inundated with attempts from agents to ring him earlier in the week.
He said: "That's how it works these days.
"You don't really have to inquire about players - people come to you."
The Doncaster boss denied interest in Gow and added: "Most of the players you are offered you are not really keen on but it's fair to say some interesting names did come up.
"But, as I've already said, they were far too expensive for the likes of us because we don't have that kind of money."
Fans were also given a reality check by club chairman John Ryan who said: "Just look at how many we have coming through the turnstiles.
"Does that mark us out as a rich club?
"We signed a player in the summer for over a million pounds and we didn't sell anyone ourselves to fund that deal but we haven't had the response we hoped for from the town.
"I'm not talking about our regular fans who come all the time and are brilliant.
"But I just wonder whether we have reached our limit when it comes to support."
Ryan said the club had budgeted for average crowds of around 11,000 this season.
The attendance for Saturday's local derby against Hull was 11,149 - but almost 3,000 were away supporters.
Ryan added: "We've got a hard core of about 8,000 fans and I'm not sure we would have much more if we were top of the table."
The club chief said he also wanted to clear up any misunderstanding about the signing of Billy Sharp being outside the budget allocated to O'Driscoll - at around 7million the biggest ever assigned to a Doncaster boss.
He said: "The entire transfer fee was funded separately by the directors but the wages are within the budget.
"It was the biggest budget ever but it's reached its limit.
"Players are paid a lot more money these days."
Payne moved on a youth loan to Oxford United but can be recalled in an emergency at any time and O'Driscoll rubbished reports that he had made a late inquiry for former winger Michael McIndoe - now at Coventry - adding: "It's total nonsense.* Centre back Wayne Thomas is to undergo an MRI scan on the knee injury he sustained in training but is expected to be out of action for at least six weeks.
Long term injury victim Byron Webster is back in training after eight months on the sidelines but skipper Brian Stock had to withdraw from the Wales squad this week with a back injury.
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Weather for Doncaster
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
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