'Football intelligence' - what Richie Wellens wants in his Doncaster Rovers players

The 41-year-old was unveiled as the club’s new boss earlier this week and is set to begin work identifying potential signings who will deliver the style of football he desires for Rovers.

Rovers currently only have 11 contracted senior players for next season, with a deal to retain young centre half Ben Blythe expected to be confirmed in the coming days.

So Wellens has plenty of room for manoeuvre in recruitment as he puts together his squad.

“Because of the seven loan situation last year, it frees up seven spots and there are probably four or five permanent spots as well,” he said.

“It’s not going to be a complete rebuild because we’ve got good experience with the likes of Jon Taylor, Tom Anderson. In their position they are right up there with the very best in the league.

“I’m looking forward to meeting them. I’ve met a couple already.

“For us it’s now about what does a Doncaster Rovers player look like? Football intelligence, a football brain, technically very good.

“And let’s put a team out there where fans can come for a release after being at work all week. They can come to the stadium and see a team that not only wins but entertains them as well.”

Wellens was yesterday set to meet with Rovers’ new talent identification manager Graham Younger for the first time as the pair plot summer recruitment.

He is determined that his Rovers team will be akin to that of Sean O’Driscoll, with whom at the Keepmoat he won promotion to the Championship in 2008.

But he insists he will not be implementing a carbon copy of O’Driscoll’s methods.

“I’m here to prove that I am going to be a good manager for the club,” he said.

“I want to build a team like what it used to be under Sean O’Driscoll.

“I’m not going to copy Sean because I have my own ideas and my own style, but let’s get Doncaster Rovers back where it used to be, playing good football and winning football matches.”

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