A brief rest and regimented plans for Doncaster Rovers players ahead of pre-season return
Doncaster Rovers' players are embracing a well-earned rest right now, having posted an impressive win to round off the 2025-26 campaign.
Grant McCann's squad rounded off an encouraging return to League One thanks to a 3-1 win at Peterborough - enough to secure them a 14th-placed finish as they ended on 60 points.
The players are now away on a complete (and rare) break away from all things football. But it won't be long before they're back to it, with bespoke training programmes sent to them by head of medical Dave Rennie. They are due to undertake those plans in mid-May and they run for six weeks - just in time for a return to Cantley for pre-season testing in late June.
Outlining what happens at this time of year, McCann told the Free Press: "So the players are off now. They've got a two-week break and they'll come back (to us) in late June.
"After their break they're put on to a six-week programme. Last year it was a four week programme, this year's a six-week programme, so it's a bit of a longer break because of the World Cup.
"The plans are in place already and the players know exactly what the off-season looks like.
"It's been a real advantage for us over the past few years as it's seen us be strong in the second half of seasons. And that's all down to the pre-season plans Dave puts in place. The robustness of the squad these last few years has been outstanding and in terms of availability I'd probably go out and say we've been the best in terms of the whole Football League.
"And that all comes from pre-season, getting the loads right and there's a lot of thought that goes into it. It's not like back when I played. You'd have six weeks off and then turn up and use pre-season to get fit. You can't do that these days because you end up getting caught out and getting injured.
"But we're not the sort to constantly check on players. I've been at clubs where the sports science team or management team are chasing players to do their programme or post results back to them.
"We give the players that trust because it's very simple. If you don't follow the plan then you get found out on day one. And if you haven't been professional, then it gives me a decision to make."