‘Amazing to hear’ - Grant McCann on reaching special Doncaster Rovers landmark and the journey so far

Doncaster Rovers’ trip to MK Dons on Saturday will mark the 250th match in charge for manager Grant McCann across both spells with the South Yorkshire side.

McCann’s association with Rovers began in June 2018 when after a two-year stint with Peterborough United he was brought in to take over the reins from Darren Ferguson, who had decided after three seasons he couldn’t take the club any further.

The Northern Irishmen’s first year in DN4 proved to be a memorable one with Rovers securing a sixth place finish - their best since being relegated from the Championship five years later, before the club ultimately fell short after being beaten on penalties against Charlton Athletic in the play-off semi-final.

McCann managed 59 matches in total during his first stint, notably reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup - the club’s furthest cup run in 56 years, before deciding in the summer of 2019 to move on to pastures new with Hull City.

However, his second stint dwarfs those numbers with the Northern Irishmen overseeing 190 games and counting, with the upcoming one against MK Dons marking his 250th in charge.

McCann, who wasn’t actually aware of this landmark, told the Free Press: “You learn something new every day.

“It's amazing to hear that because it's not very often in modern-day football you get the opportunity to manage that many games, particularly at one football club. So, yeah, brilliant, brilliant sort of marker to hit. Really pleased, that happens on Saturday and hopefully we can mark it with three points.”

McCann went on to discuss some of the highlights of both spells with the club, insisting he still has unfinished business from that failed attempt at reaching the Championship seven years ago, with the likes of John Marquis, Malik Wilks, James Coppinger, Herbie Kane and Ben Whiteman among others all enjoying stellar campaigns.

He said: “We've had loads of really good days here. Over the four seasons) and obviously this season at the minute. But the first season here, good and bad. There’s the run to the playoffs and obviously losing at Charlton.

“Winning League Two, the playoff season, the finish that we had last season.

“There's been some really positive sort of memories at this football club. And I think that probably the biggest thing is how the football club's developing and growing all the time, the inside of the football club, the infrastructure and all of that.

“So, yeah, I think there's unfinished business, I should say, I think, and we just want to continue to try and improve.”

McCann has won 113 of those matches across his two spells in charge. He’ll hope to make it 114 in this weekend’s clash with MK Dons.