Doncaster Rovers hoping to avoid major turnover of players in future transfer windows

The summer proved a tumultuous time for the club with the departure of boss Grant McCann alongside numerous senior players including Andy Butler, Danny Andrew and Tommy Rowe.

It left Darren Moore with plenty of work to do following his arrival with just three weeks to go before the start of the campaign.

Chief executive Gavin Baldwin says there was a move to bolster numbers in the squad, allowing Moore to mould the squad and plan for the long term.

"Last season we had 18 players contracted, four of whom were out on long term loans such as Luke McCullough," Baldwin told the Free Press. "We had five loans and a contracted development group of five so the squad was 24 big.

"This year we've got 15 contracted, loans of six, development of 11 so we've got a squad of 32.

"That is the start for Darren. He has brought in numbers."

Rovers entered the campaign with 17 players in the final years of their contract but are working on quickly reducing that number with talks underway with several key players.

The ultimate goal is to allow Moore the opportunity to refine his squad each summer as he looks to improve the club year on year.

"I think what Darren wants to do now is to be much more specific and not recruit nine players next year - just three or four and these are the ones that I want," Baldwin said.

"Part of that is extending the contracts of those he wants in the team already.

"If we can get a body of that work done before January, it means going into next season we're only looking at a very specific positions.

"Darren was forced to look for eight players and with Alex Baptiste going down injured that went up to nine.

"He was forced to replace a large amount of players which didn't aid continuity. "We didn't have them all in for pre-season training camp and he was on the back foot.

"It's not a situation anyone wants to be in again and that includes the players because they were nervous at the start of the season with the turnover of players."