A week of comings and goings , well goings at least, to recap for Paul Raven in his Newsround this week. Also featured this week Dean Saunders auditions for the Big Top, and the Belles are in Euro action.
Walker Walks
Director of Football Mickey Walker has been released from his post as part of the restructuring of the club following relegation from the Championship. Though Walker was much-loved by supporters and had done a lot for Rovers, particularly in the club’s return from non-league, it is hard to argue with a business decision to remove a seemingly superfluous role
Lockwood Joins Bury
Former club captain Adam Lockwood has joined fellow League One side Bury having not been offered a new deal by Rovers. Lockwood, who joined the club from Yeovil back in 2006, has been a very loyal and solid member of the squad, making exactly 150 starts for the club. Although hampered by injury in recent seasons Lockwood has always made steady appearances when called upon, and is likely to be a great asset to the Shakers. Given how well Lockwood served Rovers over the years it annoys me that my first go-to memory of him is that header he missed at West Brom two seasons back. For all Lockwood’s attributes I’ll go to my grave wondering how that ball seemingly passed through his head when he only had to nod it home. Such is life, he’ll probably score an identical opportunity when he returns to the Keepmoat with Bury on 21st August.
Gillett Go
Simon Gillett, who featured in every league game for the Rovers last season, is set to move on, having not been offered a new contract by the club. Though the destination is yet unclear Gillett used his twitter account to wish his Rovers team-mates good luck at pre-season training this morning, and said he would be moving on to pastures new. The fanzine extends it’s best wishes to another loyal player who didn’t quite get the respect he sometimes deserved from Rovers fans, and also remains the only man I’ve ever seen trap a ball beneath his knee cap without bending his leg.
Saunders Speaks With Supporters
Manager Dean Saunders last night addressed the Supporters’ Club AGM, facing questions from the club’s fans. Saunders admitted that as yet the club had not received any offers for the contracted players, whilst he was unsure whether those who had not been offered a new contract would be at the club’s first pre-season training session today. Unsurprisingly Fabian Robert and Habib Beye look unlikely to be returning to the club, despite the latter still being contracted to Rovers. The meeting went on to take a bizarre twist as Saunders began performing circus skills to detract from awkward questions, when asked “What about players?” Saunders responded “I’m spinning plates at the moment, and I have five on the go at this point.” He went on to answer questions about Willie McKay’s involvement with an incredible juggling display.
Belles Trio in Euros Action
Doncaster Rovers Belles trio Mary Earps, Beth England and Jess Sigsworth have all been in action at the UEFA Women’s Under 19s Championships in Turkey this past week. Both England and Earps started England’s opening group game against Sweden, which was lost 1-0, with Sigsworth coming on for England, for England, after an hour. All three started the Lionesses’ second group game against Spain last night, but again England were defeated, losing 4-0 at the Titanic Stadium. Their team-mate Kasia Lipka, who was an unused substitute for both matches, will be hoping to get a run-out in the final group game, a dead-rubber, against Serbia.
Matchday Ticket Prices for 2012-13 Announced
Rovers in relatively sensible pricing structure shocker! The club this week announced matchday prices for the new season, with adult tickets for all matches available at £20 if bought in Category B advance.
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