Doncaster Rovers: Deal for another forward lined up for first week in January

Doncaster Rovers will complete the signing of a forward during the first week of January, boss Grant McCann has revealed.
Grant McCannGrant McCann
Grant McCann

The club this week secured an 18 month contract for another forward, Kieran Sadlier, who will be available from January 1.

But the former Cork City player will quickly face competition from another new face, a deal for whom is already in place.

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"There will be another forward coming into the club," McCann told the Free Press. "We are good in that area but I think we need more strength and depth, just to be more clinical, more ruthless.

"We're the fourth highest scorers in the league but I want to be top.

"We'll be bringing someone in to add more goals to us."

The Free Press understands the forward will arrive from a Championship club on loan for the rest of the season.

It is also understood that McCann is examining options for a defensive addition but is yet to finalise a definitive target.

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Whether the third addition comes in on a permanent deal or a loan depends on the identity of the player Rovers will ultimately pursue but options for both are open to McCann.

The Rovers boss says his plans for January have been signed off by the club's board.

Those plans include recruitment, potential departures and contracts, with 22 players due to see their deals end in the summer.

Sadlier's arrival earlier this week begins the January business early, though the forward is ineligible until the New Year due to international transfer regulations.

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The 24-year-old will however report for training at Cantley Park today, beginning a mini-preseason with the League of Ireland campaign having finished in September.

Though his deal is initially for 18 months, Sadlier is seen as a player who can have a long and exciting career at the club.

McCann says both he and the board are planning over an 18 month period, by which time he is confident he will have his own squad fully in place.

'Everything is sorted and in place for January,' McCann said.

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'The plan is for us to have that progression in 12 to 16 months time. In that time I'll have my squad in place.

'People who we think are going to stay here, we'll get those filtered out over the next month or so, plus more.

'The ones who we'll bring into the football club will help us not only this year but the year after and the years to come.

'That's what we want to do, we want to start building for the future.'

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McCann says he delighted to have the support of the club's hierarchy over a long term vision.

But he is also keen to stress the importance of looking at the short term, with Rovers well placed to mount a push for a top six finish.

'The long term future is the most important thing,' he said.

'As the manager you always look at the short term. We are and that's what I got across to the board.

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'I love the long term picture and that is something we want to build on.

'But at the minute we're in the play-offs and we need to strengthen to keep us up there, in and around there, and chasing the teams above us and they fully bought into that as well.'

 

 

 

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