Grant McCann's transfer admission amid Doncaster Rovers' recruitment restructure

It was the summer of 2023 that McCann walked back into the Rovers' hotseat after a one-season spell during 2018-19.

The Northern Irishman returned to a club at a low ebb, and off the back of a campaign that saw them finish in their lowest position for two decades.

As far as he was concerned, the only way was up and crucial to that was a coherent recruitment strategy. Now, more than a year on, McCann believes the club are in a far better place.

He points to this summer's dealing as an example. Rovers' forward-thinking allowed them to get seven of their nine additions through the door before June was out. That meant almost all the summer signings could be part of the group from day one of pre-season, including the useful week-long trip out to Portugal.

When asked by the Free Press about how the structure of the recruitment department compares to when he first arrived in 2023, McCann said: "We're just more focused, I think. Strategically, we're much better at this point than we were when we first came back into the football club.

"Everybody's in the same way of thinking in our training ground. Lee Glover and James Coppinger lead that side of things really well for us and I've got loads of dossiers and stuff on players, as well as having five or six scouts that we use who constantly are out watching games and putting together reports on players or opposition or whatever it may be.

"We are in a really good position so if we need to act (in the market) then we're in a good place."

Last week saw the summer transfer window slam shut but McCann resisted the urge to dip into it before Friday's deadline. He revealed on the eve of its closure that a forward who they had tracked for some time ended up joining a League One side.

Rovers are hoping for a third successive league win on Saturday when current leaders Gillingham visit the Eco-Power Stadium.