Doncaster Rovers manager Gary McSheffrey has been relieved of his duties following a 3-0 loss to Carlisle United on Saturday.
The League Two side have fallen to 12th in the table in recent days despite starting the early weeks of the season on a positive note. That positive start was always tainted by a string of poor performances where Doncaster found a way to win points. However, now the results are gone there has been no escaping the pressure for McSheffrey.
Rovers will now look to appoint a new manager with a trip to Crewe Alexandra ahead of them on Saturday, October 22.
Gary McSheffrey Relieved of His Duties as Doncaster Rovers Manager
CLUB STATEMENT | Doncaster Rovers can confirm the dismissal of Gary McSheffrey from the position of first team manager with immediate effect, with assistant manager Steve Eyre also leaving the club.#drfc https://t.co/rkL5CBXgQR
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) October 17, 2022
Torrid Reign That Included a Relegation
When Doncaster Rovers sacked Richie Wellens in December 2021, the club were desperate to stay in League One. They turned to then U18s manager Gary McSheffrey on an interim basis, before electing to give him the job permanently.
McSheffrey’s first senior job in football, at a club he once played for, has not gone as he’d have hoped.
The 40-year-old failed to secure safety from League One in a torrid season for Rovers and had begun struggling to keep them in the top half of the fourth tier.
It’s early days in the managerial career of McSheffrey, but this is a job he will look back on as experience rather than success.
Unable to Showcase Good Football
Previously penned ‘the Arsenal of the north’, Rovers are a club that prides itself on playing good football and it just hasn’t happened under McSheffrey. He himself, as quoted by the Doncaster Free Press, has referred to the output as ‘trying to play winning football’ as he played down any hopes of this squad playing expansive football.
Doncaster had become something of a second-half team, with them placing 22nd of 24 in League Two’s first-half table, with just one win in 14 and eighth of 24 in the second-half league.
🗣 Gary McSheffrey following #drfc’s 4-2 defeat against @BarnsleyFC: “The second half was more effective. But It’s easier to play as a football player when the pressure is off. The best players produce the goods at 0-0.” [@FreePressRovers] pic.twitter.com/hAYhK203Mp
— Donny Report (@DonnyReport) October 12, 2022
On a positive note, some of McSheffrey’s signings look like good additions to the club, including the likes of Luke Molyneux, George Miller and Kyle Hurst, who all joined in the summer transfer window.
However, those in control of the football club have decided that the former Birmingham City striker is not the man to get the best out of them.
Club Statement
In a club statement on doncasterrovers.co.uk, chairman David Blunt said: “While results so far in Sky Bet League Two have been largely positive, there has been a growing concern over the standard of performances in matches and a lack of progress between games.
“We feel this is threatening our ability to achieve our stated goals for the season.
“We have also been disappointed that our wishes for a particular style of play and overall identity, which were clearly laid out over the summer, have not been brought into effect in competitive matches.”
Blunt also stated that Rovers expect to conclude interviews this week with the process of finding a replacement for McSheffrey described as ‘well underway’.
Blunt concluded: “Our heartfelt thanks go to Gary for his dedicated service to the club as a player, coach and latterly manager. He initially stepped up to first team level in difficult circumstances and has carried himself with class and dignity throughout his tenure as manager.
“All at the club wish both Gary and (assistant) Steve (Eyre) the very best for their futures.”
The club have placed head professional development phase coach Chad Gribble and youth development phase transition coach Paul Green in charge of team training until a new appointment is made.
