Don’t expect panic from Darren Moore - there won’t be any: Liam Hoden’s Doncaster Rovers column

Not September 12. Not even September 5.

No, Doncaster Rovers’ season will begin on August 29. And they found out for certain that their Carabao Cup clash with Blackburn Rovers would take place on that date with just ten days’ notice.

Their pre-season was to be cut short by a week. And after five months away from the training ground due to Covid-19, every single day of preparation was to be significant.

Any concern arising from the situation would be understandable.

Rovers, after all, have only 17 contracted senior players - and a handful of those are classified as seniors mainly in contract terms.

Work on the squad is vital - and if they are to make a promising start to the season, it is essential it is done well before the October 16 transfer deadline.

But do not expect an inkling of panic from the man tasked with constructing the squad.

If you have not figured it out just yet, Darren Moore is not a man who panics in the transfer market.

On the contrary, he is a man who has been described as stubborn when it comes to his first choice targets.

He allowed weeks to pass in January while he waited for his targets to become available, or others to become definite dead ends.

Nothing will change as August ticks into September and then into October, if necessary,

While he will have deep concerns over whether his players will be in the ideal condition to begin the most relentlessly tasking of seasons, it will not force him into rash decisions over potential signings.

Moore waited weeks for the final green light to be given by Stoke City for Josef Bursik to join Rovers on loan.

He could have had other goalkeepers - also youth internationals - through the door even before Ian Lawlor’s loan switch to Oldham Athletic was sanctioned. But he did not want other goalkeepers as much as he wanted Bursik, and was happy to wait.

And wait he will continue to do.

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