Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson set to firm up retained list and recruitment plans with board

The Scot held individual meetings with his squad last week, informing ‘eight or nine’ of them that they no longer figured in his plans and are free to find new clubs.

But as well as getting several players out of the club, Ferguson is also keen to get the ball rolling in terms of bringing players in.

He will attempt to convince Tommy Rowe and Gary McSheffrey, who are out of contract at Wolves and Scunthorpe United respectively this summer, to drop into League Two with Doncaster after the pair’s impressive loan stints at the Keepmoat Stadium.

But he still has to clear it with the board that he can bring players in before players leave.

With the majority of the senior squad under contract for at least another season there is no guarantee that those who have been told they won’t figure in the first team next season will move on. Rovers may find themselves in a situation where unwanted players end up sitting on their contracts.

That context, and not knowing for sure which players will move on, potentially throws up complications for Ferguson in terms of managing his budget - and he will seek clarification from the board on certain issues today.

“We’ve still got to have discussions on that,” said Ferguson, when he was asked if will be able to sign players before others leave.

He added: “I have got players in that dressing room that I definitely want to work with. Some partnerships that I’m seeing have worked really well.

“We’ll build on that with the ones we want to keep and then we’ll try and recruit the right ones.

“People like Tommy Rowe - can I convince him to stay? And Gary McSheffrey, who I felt we’ve clearly missed in the last two games.

“Obviously others as well.

“We’ll try our best to get the best players we can.”

Ferguson said last week that he hoped the club would be in a position this week to announce the retained list.