Transfer tweaks and embracing data - inside Doncaster Rovers' change in approach to recruitment
Rovers have been busy in the transfer market this summer
Doncaster Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin has shed light on some of the changes the club have implemented when it comes to transfers.
It was announced at the Meet the Owners event back in February that this summer would see Rovers "invest in tools to help the recruitment department".
Speaking to the Free Press recently, Baldwin has explained more about the process: "We've used data for every (bit of) recruitment. Lee (Glover, head of recruitment) has led it and has embraced the data. But what he's also instilled in us is that you have to have eyes on the player as well.
"I probably sit too much on that side of the table and I like data, whereas Lee likes watching a player. So I think we've now a really good balance. And I'd say that of every player that's come in so far, we've probably had about eight or nine options. And they've been rated with the key attributes of that position and what data comes in.
"And to be fair, I've needed the data. The final approval for any transfer goes to Terry (Bramall, chairman). And he traditionally has been more interested in the finances deal, to make sure it fits within budgets etc. Yet, he's now challenging us because he likes to see the data. So it's taken it to a different level, to be fair.
"So we have to provide the data as part of the deal. For example, if a new winger came in then we would have his data compared to every other data of the other players that we've looked at in the league. I wouldn't say it's cheap, but it's definitely proving value for money at the moment."
Manager Grant McCann concurred, and says the tweaked system "marries" up old-school scouting with modern technology. "As an example, Isaac Hutchinson's data was through the roof," McCann said. "And I mean from Premier League to League Two (players).
"So, although we've watched Isaac numerous times, it married up with the data as well. Leon Ayinde was very similar. So the data marries up with what we see (scouting them) so that we then know we're in for, hopefully, a good player."