Darren Moore updates on Doncaster Rovers' talks with players whose contracts are expiring

Doncaster Rovers’ plans to open talks with players reaching the end of their contracts has been put on hold due to the uncertainty following the scrapping of the League One salary cap.
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The EFL was this week forced to cancel the £2.5m salary cap placed on third tier clubs after an independent panel upheld a claim from the Professional Footballers’ Association that the restrictions were ‘unlawful and unenforceable.’

Rovers manager Darren Moore, along with talent identification manager Adam Henshall, met with chief executive Gavin Baldwin and chairman David Blunt on Thursday, with the situation surrounding expiring contracts high on the agenda.

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It was expected that the green light would be given for talks to be opened with some of those who will be out of contract in the summer.

Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.
Doncaster Rovers manager Darren Moore.

But it was agreed that pursuing new deals would be postponed until further clarity was sought on what financial regulations would be in place in the future.

“With the salary cap changes, we’ve decided as a club to see what the outcome of that is going to be,” Rovers boss Darren Moore told the Free Press.

“We need to see if that is going to play a major factor in it.

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“Because that has surfaced, we have postponed things like that until we know exactly where we are going forward.

“I think that will be the right thing to do as a club and we’ll pick it up and review it at a later date.”

With the caps withdrawn, the EFL have reinstated the Salary Cost Management Protocol which sees expenditure linked to turnover. League One clubs such as Rovers see their wage spend restricted to 60 per cent of club turnover.

But discussions between clubs over the future of financial restrictions are set to continue, with the EFL looking to speak to their members by the end of the week.

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Moore welcomed the end of the salary caps, believing them to be an unfair restriction on clubs who have greater revenues.

“I suppose it takes the controllables off the situation and it is left down to the club,” he said.

“I think it should be that way because I don’t think you should restrict clubs that have got a bigger fan base - you can’t really penalise them for that.

“It’s something, in my opinion, that is only fair.”

Moore expects some clubs will now use the added freedom to snap up free agents to aid their cause this season.

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Despite being offered a number of ‘excellent’ footballers that are currently unemployed, Moore says he will not be entering that market at this time.

“There’s some excellent free agents out there now, looking for the opportunity to play football and they could just be the difference for clubs with whatever their aspirations are this season,” he said.

“This decision may allow one or two to do that, if they feel they need help with injuries or a lack of bodies. That’s their prerogative.

“We’ve had some excellent free agents contacting the club wanting to play for Doncaster Rovers. We know who is available and there are some excellent players out there.

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“Maybe, business is not done for one or two clubs and talks are going on behind the scenes but that has not been the case here.”

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