Grant McCann lifts lid on Billy Sharp’s Sheffield United request and if he’d bring him back to Rovers
Grant McCann has shared his thoughts on Billy Sharp’s exit and his amazing experience working with the forward
Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann says he was surprised to learn of the news of Billy Sharp’s retirement from professional football.
McCann brought Sharp back to the Club Doncaster Sports Village for the fourth time in June 2024 and formed a close relationship with the forward, who would go on to play a key role in the team’s League Two title triumph and their subsequent survival in the third-tier of English football.
Sharp scored 26 goals in 96 appearances under McCann, notably scoring the last-minute winner against Bradford which clinched the club’s promotion - along with a memorable hat-trick in his final ever appearance against Peterborough United - which left him on 299 career goals - one short of the much coveted 300 he had been striving for.
“I'm a little bit surprised he retired knowing he needs to get one more goal to get to the 300. The last time I spoke to Billy a few weeks ago, there was another marker.
“He wanted to hit the 320 or 325 goal mark. I can't remember what he told me it was. Yeah, unbelievable career. He's been the championship's best, hasn't he? In terms of the numbers of goals that he's scored. And all the clubs that he's played for, I'm sure everyone's saying the same.”
Sharp is currently taking part in the Baller League where he’ll be rubbing shoulders with a combination of ex-professionals and influencers in a much more relaxed footballing environment than the one he’s become accustomed to.
He’s also appeared on Sky Sports as a pundit as he explores another potential career path, but he’s made no secret of his desire to go into coaching one day with his beloved Sheffield United.
Sharp admitted in a recent interview that he was slightly surprised not to get one final season at Doncaster Rovers but also explained that he had voiced a desire to go to Bramall Lane as a coach around 12 months ago.
McCann explained: “We didn't know what he really wanted to do really. Because he spoke to me probably this time last year about getting into coaching at Sheffield United.
“Did he want to continue to play and get the 300? Did he want to go into coaching? I actually spoke to Chris Wilder about it. I said, Chris, listen, if you can wait till January,you can have him.
“I'm not going to stand in Billy's way of coming back to a club that he loves and coaches. I think Chris ended up appointing Gary McSheffery into the role.”
McCann also hinted that Sharp could one day make a return to DN4 but said that at the moment he thinks his heart is at Bramall Lane.
“Yeah, never say never. To have somebody with his experience in and around, you know, what we already have, then, for sure.
“But I know that his heart's set on getting in and coaching around Sheffield United.
“If I could create a role for him, then I would do my best to do that. But at the minute, I think he has his heart, obviously with the media stuff, the Baller League, and maybe at some point getting back in with Chris.”