For Doncaster Rovers, the departure of several key names and title-winners in the club’s retained list sparks the beginning of a new, ambitious chapter in the club’s history.
With clear intentions of reaching the League One playoffs in their 2026/27 campaign, we have identified five key names that Grant McCann must consider to boost these ambitions.
For Doncaster Rovers, their return to the third division of the football pyramid had one clear aim at the end of the tunnel: survival. Returning to League One as Champions, manager Grant McCann established clear intentions to compete at the level, finishing as high up the table as possible, rather than sinking into a relegation battle.
The South Yorkshire side sparked their return to the division with remarkable wins in their opening five fixtures, including a 3-1 demolition of playoff-achievers Bradford City, but endured a dire 14-game winless streak that dismantled their strong start. By the arrival of the January transfer window, Rovers had planted themselves deep into a relegation battle.
But, as had been the pattern over their past two seasons, manager Grant McCann‘s ability to turn a season’s fortunes around with some January business came into fruition.
Recruiting familiar face Hakeeb Adelakun permanently, alongside experienced heads Neill Byrne, Zander Clark, and Elliot Lee, Doncaster sparked a tremendous turnaround.
With a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers on New Year’s Day, Doncaster’s resulting run of results until the end of the season saw them climb from the lows of 23rd up to 14th.
Encouraging for next season, McCann’s men generated genuine play-off form in the second half of the season.
From January to May, Rovers picked up 11 wins and 5 draws, losing fewer fixtures than the likes of Stockport County and Stevenage FC, as they finished eighth in the form table.
Heading into the summer transfer window, manager Grant McCann has expressed frustration with last year’s lack of recruitment in preparation for their League One return.
Highlighting the need to be ruthless in contract discussions and the need to recruit the right characters for a playoff push, McCann has showcased real intent with how he has approached the club’s retained list.
Releasing club heroes and legends in the likes of title winner Jordan Gibson, Joe Sbarra, James Maxwell, and icon Billy Sharp, a deadwood clearout seems to be on the cards for Doncaster, as they look to strengthen across the field.
As manager Grant McCann and Head of Recruitment Lee Glover have claimed, a different recruitment approach is on the cards for Doncaster Rovers this summer, with attention potentially turning toward the Irish and Scottish Leagues.
With several key figures set to depart, whether departing loanees or out-of-contract players, Grant McCann must now turn his focus to strengthening some critical positions.
Above all else, Doncaster Rovers require: a clinical number nine, a reliable holding midfielder, greater depth in goal, further attacking threat on the wings, and a creative outlet in the number ten role.
An essential aspect of Grant McCann’s title-winning League One side at Hull City in the 2020/21 season, the veteran number nine is perhaps the most likely recruitment option on this list.
Claiming to have already signed an “experienced” number nine that “scores goals,” Magennis ticks the boxes. Take his Northern Irish nationality into account, and it is pretty much guaranteed.
A key performer during Exeter City’s disappointing relegation campaign, Josh Magennis has displayed his goalscoring ability throughout the season, contributing to the side’s attacking output beyond the shadow of breakthrough star Jayden Wareham.
While the 22-year-old alternative is sure to be favoured by many clubs and fanbases across the pyramid, the experienced mentor should not be overlooked. After all, Wareham’s expected transfer fee is surely beyond Doncaster Rovers‘ budget.
During his time under Grant McCann, the centre forward scored 19 and assisted 7 in 44 games, and six years on, the basgman has yet to lose his goalscoring touch.
With nine goals in just 18 starts this season, Magennis, over 1764 minutes, has accumulated a goal-per-game ratio of 0.4, outperforming his xG by two goals.
With the right amount of service, Grant McCann’s crossing, wing-based setup could certainly bring the best back out of him, making the most of his aerial dominance and presence around the six-yard box. Operating as a lone striker in McCann’s typical 4-3-3 setup, Magennis would provide that strong outlet up top to bring others into the game.
The likes of Billy Sharp and Brandon Hanlan have struggled to master this role throughout this season, and so the recruitment of a marauding centre forward with a lean build would be a perfect acquisition.
Based on previous contract agreements, Doncaster Rovers have regularly taken squad consistency into account, focusing on long-term contracts for potential long-term assets.
National League recruit Owen Bailey is the perfect example of this. Recruited at 24 from Gateshead, his three-year stint, with a further two years remaining on his contract, sees seven-figure transfer fees circling as Championship sides come sniffing.
With this, 24-year-old Terry Taylor must be Doncaster’s top midfield option in that number 8 role on a long-term contract.
On loan from parent club Charlton FC over the 2025/26 season, Taylor, once again, was a shining light in a dire relegation campaign for Northampton Town. With 174 career appearances already in the bank, Taylor possesses all of the traits to become one of the leading midfielders in the division, under the guidance of one of the EFL greats, Grant McCann.
Despite operating within three underperforming clubs in the EFL,Grimsby Town, Burton Albion, and Northampton Town, the young midfielder has consistently showcased his ability to dictate the game while accumulating some assists along the way.
Importantly for McCann’s high-pressing system, the number 23 has been integral to Northampton Town’s defensive unit, putting his body on the line, and would be the perfect Grant McCann character.
Tapping into the markets of Ireland and Northern Ireland in recent seasons with the likes of Sean Grehan, Patrick Kelly, Darren Robinson, and Jay McGrath, the division has become a gold mine for underappreciated talent. And, as recently confirmed by the head of recruitment, Lee Glover, the club intends to do the same this summer.
One of the best names in Irish football over recent seasons, and one of the more consistent figures, is goalkeeper Joseph Anang.
Capped for the black stars of Ghana for the first time last season, the goalkeeper has made it onto the world stage, having previously performed on the Conference League stage over the last 24 months.
While the League of Ireland campaign concludes in January, Doncaster Rovers must be prepared to pay top money for what should be the best available goalkeeping option on the market this Summer.
At 6″2 in stature, St. Patrick Athletic’s shot stopper has been staggeringly consistent over his three-year stint at the club, having joined from West Ham United’s academy in 2022.
Boasting a staggering save percentage of 76% so far this season, the goalkeeper has all of the capabilities to grasp an EFL opportunity with open arms.
A must buy.
Surprisingly, the winger market over the coming summer appears to be quite bare, much to the displeasure of Grant McCann, though one name stands out as it stands.
Concluding his second season in Yorkshire with Huddersfield Town, the experienced Mickel Miller’s time with the Terriers comes to a close as the only significant name released from the club’s retained list.
Over his ten-year senior career, starting in stellar fashion with Scotland’s Hamilton Academical, the Scotsman’s move to the EFL set off an eventful path. Most notably, the winger contributed heavily to Plymouth Argyle’s title-winning campaign in 2022/23, and won the Football League Trophy with Rotherham United the previous season.
Interestingly, the 30-year-old can be viewed as a utility player. Throughout his career, Mickel has transitioned between left wing, left back, and even dropped into the second-striker role, where he scored five goals in eleven games.
Within McCann’s system, Miller has all the components to succeed. A wide attacker with defensive capabilities, Miller could certainly combine the two to operate successfully within McCann’s high-press mentality.
Miller has suffered injury woes in recent years, though the appointment of former Leicester City head of medical, Dave Rennie, could prove vital in squeezing the best out of a quality winger, when fit.
Last but not least, Doncaster’s number-ten role remains vacant. Having recruited Elliot Lee on a loan basis from Wrexham in the January window, the 31-year-old has now departed the club, scoring three goals in the process, and what better replacement than the National League player of the season contender, Zak Brunt?
Just seconds away from a promotion campaign into the football league with Boreham Wood, attacking midfielder Zak Brunt will have plenty of suitors chasing his signature over the coming months. Doncaster Rovers should be at the forefront of all of these for key reasons.
Regular appearance maker George Broadbent is a close friend of the midfielder, having risen through the Sheffield United academy ranks and played together at Boreham Wood before his eventual League Two move to Doncaster.
Manager Grant McCann had Doncaster Rovers’ hashtag wheeling on Saturday afternoon, as the manager attended the National League playoff final, with most onlookers assuming that he had scouting intentions for winger Abdulmalik or teammate Zak Brunt on the afternoon.
Over the course of the season, the midfielder accumulated a mind-blowing 38 goal involvements in 56 games, with 19 goals and 19 assists, including two extra-time goals to propel Luke Garrard’s Boreham Wood into the playoff final.
Unfortunately for Doncaster, striking a deal with the Hertfordshire club will not be so straightforward, with three years and an option to extend remaining on his current Boreham Wood deal.
If either of the three Doncaster names that are linked with moves away from the club do go onto new pastures, Rovers would be able to reinvest these transfer fees into the unquestionable talent that the lower leagues boast.
Why not throw in a cheeky Abdulmalik to match the deal?
