McCann sings praises of Gotts as he discusses ‘more sustainable’ approach to contracts at Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann says he was keen to reward Robbie Gotts with a new contract due to the tremendous determination he has shown and the performances he has been putting in for the club in recent months.

Gotts, who has been an everpresent in the league this season, recently signed a contract extension, which will keep him in DN4 until 2029, while also including an option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.

“I think his performances and the standards that Robbie has set over quite a few months now have been outstanding,” McCann explained.

“He's everything I like in a football player, he wants to learn, he wants to get better. His performances are improving all the time.”

McCann has made a point of trying to tie players down to contracts earlier in the season as opposed to waiting until the final few months of the campaign when often star players face uncertain futures and often opportunities to move elsewhere.

Owen Bailey was one example of the club retaining the services of an asset with the skipper signing a new three-year contract. While back in May, left-back Jack Senior signed an extension to keep himself at the club until 2028.

McCann said: “ Probably the first year, that wasn't really something we'd do here. We'd wait until the end of the season and we'd decide who we'd keep and who we'd let go or who we'd try and keep.

“But I don't think it's sustainable.I think players end up having other options, particularly your better ones. So you've got to try and protect the assets that you have in your building. And I think this is just a real sign of that.

McCann continued: “I think that's one way we have certainly improved as a football club over the past couple of years, is that we try and tie people down who deserve the opportunity and the chance.

“And Robbie is certainly one of these. We didn't need to do anything. He still had this year and next year sort of way on his contract, but we wanted to reward him for his determination and his performances. And I'm really pleased for Robbie.”

Gotts, who McCann described as one of the best players in his position across the entire division, is a player the Northern Irishmen has always thought highly of.

Infact, McCann’s interest in the player predates his return to Doncaster Rovers in 2023.

McCann said: “I tried to take Robbie to Hull when I was there. And so we've liked him for a long time. When I say we, I mean myself and Cliff in particular, we've really liked him a long time and always admired the midfield at Barrow when we were in League 2.

“They all complimented each other really, really well. And Gotts was the one that we probably liked the most and it took him a little bit of time to get up to the way we wanted him to play, to a new club, to a new division.But once he did, there has been no stopping him. And I'm delighted for him.”