Doncaster Rovers appoint Gary McSheffrey as permanent manager
Gary McSheffrey becomes Doncaster's permanent manager after taking role on caretaker basis on December 2; the 39-year-old guided Doncaster to 1-0 win against Shrewsbury on December 11; Rovers will next play Morecambe on January 2 after losing 3-0 to Sunderland on Monday
Wednesday 29 December 2021 16:40, UK
Doncaster Rovers have confirmed the appointment of Gary McSheffrey as the club's permanent first-team manager.
The 39-year-old has overseen the club's previous four fixtures as a caretaker manager after they parted ways with Richie Wellens.
McSheffrey is understood to have been the preferred choice of two final candidates, the other being ex-Doncaster star James Coppinger, from a longer list of names which also included Jonathan Woodgate, Paul Cook and Paul Clement.
Doncaster earned a 1-0 win against Shrewsbury on December 11, giving McSheffrey his first victory as caretaker manager, although they were beaten 3-0 at home by Sunderland on Monday.
Of the appointment, chairman David Blunt said: "The reaction we have seen from the team since Gary's appointment, along with the excellent way he conducted himself during his interview for the job meant that we felt he was the best man to take the team forward.
"He is a well-spoken character who has clearly had an impact in the short term, and we will give him all the support he needs both in terms of player recruitment and support staff off the field to help the team get out of the position we currently find ourselves in on the pitch.
"Our aim was always to have this appointment finalised before the start of the January transfer window, and with that now done our focus turns to strengthening the squad and looking forward to a strong second half of the campaign."
A former player, McSheffrey featured for Doncaster during his career, originally signing for the club on loan in 2016 before making the move permanent the following season.
In 2018, he joined Doncaster's academy as a professional development phase coach working with the team's U18s.
Doncaster advertised publicly for the role of first-team manager and had more than 100 applicants, which included coaches and personnel in the game who did not have a playing background. Among them was ex-Tottenham, Bournemouth and Huddersfield recruitment expert David Webb, who is also under consideration for the head coach role at Hammarby in Sweden.
Doncaster sit 23rd in League One and will next play Morecambe on January 2.
