Super strikes, the Sal and a strange end - A look back at Luke Molyneux's Doncaster Rovers career

Luke Molyneux isn't the first footballer to see old comments come back to haunt him, and he won't be the last.

As the winger brought down the curtain on a hugely successful four-year spell at Doncaster Rovers this week, many fans were quick to pull him up on quotes from just over two years ago. After signing a new contract, to plenty of fanfare, Molyneux said in May 2024: "I want to stay for as long as I can and hopefully become a legend here."

After completing a move to Salford City it didn't take long for many to pull him up on this, after swapping the third tier for the fourth.

The whole episode of Molyneux's exit was dealt with swiftly by Rovers - less than a week after his previous manager declared the player didn't want to engage in re-negotiating a contract, he was on his way - and puts a rather odd and strange full stop to his time in South Yorkshire.

To fully understand the fans' disappointment about his exit it's important to put it into context. Molyneux has been one of the main shining lights in this team for years. His numbers perfectly back that up.

After a slow start to his career at DRFC in 2022-23, Molyneux burst into life after Grant McCann's re-appointment as Rovers boss. Eighteen goal contributions in 2023-24 were followed by his golden season in 2024-25 as he stole the show and played a huge role in delivering the League Two title. There was some blockbuster strikes and ample moments that season where he sprinkled stardust on games. He was effectively a cheat code for League Two that season.

Even last year his numbers stood up as he experienced a new division for the first time. And even more so when you consider he was carrying an injury (more on that later) practically all season long.

If Molyneux wasn't an important player or his contribution to the cause was minimal, then the backlash being voiced by Rovers fans would be nowhere near as loud as it is. In some way, that shows respect to the player and what he achieved - albeit with a rather large caveat as to his choice of next club.

As well as his plaudits on the pitch, Molyneux also became a big hit with the fanbase for buying into the whole 'Sal' episode at a time when the feelgood factor was in its pomp in early 2024. The popular boozer was even the setting for a genius video to go with the announcement about his new contract that summer. Molyneux was game for a laugh and fully bought into the whole skit.

Yet despite the goals and the laughs, his time in DN4 wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

There was a series of flashpoints involving fans - a small section it has to be noted - booing Molyneux or criticising him online. Colchester away in 24-25 and Reading at home last season are just two that spring to mind, with McCann having previously spoken publicly about the struggles Moylneux went through at times. There was also a tough period for the winger last season when his grandfather - who he was mightily close to - passed away.

It's also important to refer back to that aforementioned injury that he struggled with for virtually all last season. That was only disclosed by McCann once the campaign was winding down, and with safety assured. Molyneux missed the last few matches so he could undergo surgery on a double hernia.

Just a week before his eventual exit, an in-house interview with Rovers saw Molyneux open up about just how tough it was carrying the injury all season long. He finished by stating he was looking forward to getting going next season.

But football moves quick and just a few days later came McCann's bombshell about the contract knockback and a rejected bid. Last weekend saw developments hasten further and now Molyneux is looking forward to a new chapter with Salford.

Both him and Rovers will of course move on, but you can't help but feel this was a sorry ending to what appeared to have all the ingredients of being a long and fruitful marriage.