Doncaster Rovers

Leeds recall Sullivan from loan
Leeds United have recalled veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan from his loan spell at Doncaster Rovers, reports SSB. Sullivan could come straight back into the side for Saturday's visit of Hull City to replace loanee Reading keeper Graham Stack who has an ankle injury. Stack could be out for a month and his loan spell ends on 27 January. Sullivan, 36, has played five games for Leeds this term but had fallen out of favour with new boss Dennis Wise.

Bradford 0-1 Doncaster
A smartly-taken goal by Paul Heffernan extended Doncaster's winning run to five games in the Yorkshire derby. James O'Connor crossed from the right and Heffernan scored with a volley into the far corner after 14 minutes. Bradford, who were second best for most of the match, almost snatched a point in the closing stages. Dean Windass forced Rovers keeper Ben Smith to make a fine save in the final minute before Marc Bridge-Wilkinson saw his 20-yard free-kick hit the post. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bradford: Ricketts, Doyle (Swift 80), Wetherall, Bower, Clarke, Jermaine Johnson, Schumacher, Bentham, Bridge-Wilkinson, Windass, Graham (Brown 70). Subs Not Used: Howarth, Parker, Penford. Booked: Bower, Windass. Doncaster: Smith, O'Connor, Lee, Lockwood, Gareth Roberts, Coppinger (Thornton 86), Paul Green, Wilson, Forte (Guy 83), McCammon, Heffernan. Subs Not Used: Budtz, Dyer, Noble. Goals: Heffernan 14. Att: 10,069. Ref: A Penn (W Midlands).

Smith set to net Doncaster deal
Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll says the club are close to agreeing a new deal with goalkeeper Ben Smith. The 19-year-old's current contract runs out at the end of the season. O'Driscoll told SSB: \"He is very enthusiastic, maybe a bit impetuous at times for a keeper but he shows that only in training. \"He's not impetuous in games so that has been a big plus. He does all the simple things well and he has almost got a new contract under his belt.\"

Doncaster v Huddersfield
Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll goes into the game with no new injury problems after the loss at Blackpool. O'Driscoll could opt to freshen up his side with Lewis Guy and Sean Thornton favourites to return. Huddersfield are likely to be without Andy Holdsworth for the trip to their Yorkshire rivals with an ankle injury. A late decision will also be made on Danny Schofield (virus), but Michael Collins plays despite receiving a fifth yellow card of the season on Saturday.

Doncaster snap up Preston's Stock
Doncaster have completed the permanent signing of Preston midfielder Brian Stock after a successful loan spell at the club. The 25-year-old has agreed a deal until June 2009 at the Keepmoat Stadium. He previously played under Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll at Bournemouth and was O'Driscoll's first signing following his arrival at Doncaster in September. Stock made only eight appearances for Preston after joining the club from Bournemouth last January.

Quakers sign Ravenhill and Wright
Darlington have completed the month-long loan signings of Grimsby midfielder Ricky Ravenhill and Barnsley forward Tommy wright. Ravenhill, 25, joins up with his former manager at Doncaster Dave Penney, who is now in charge at Darlington. Both he and the 22-year-old Wright will go straight into Darlington's squad to face Bury on Tuesday. Wright had ealier failed to agree personal terms with Rotherham, who pulled out of a deal for the forward.

Man held after stadium explosion
A man has been arrested after a gas explosion at the former home of Doncaster Rovers FC. The man, who is in his 20s, was one of two men treated for burns at Doncaster Royal Infirmary after the explosion at Belle Vue stadium at 0315 GMT. Part of Bawtry Road was closed for two hours while the gas supply to the main stand was isolated and a fire put out. Police said the second man had been transferred to a specialist burns unit in Nottinghamshire. Officers will stay at the ground while an inquiry into the cause of the explosion takes place. A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "Whilst we are unable to state at this time the exact cause, it is believed it may be linked to the gas supply to the ground." The arrested man has left hospital and will be questioned on Wednesday. Doncaster Rovers bid farewell to the ground in December in favour of its new, 15,000-seat Keepmoat Stadium.

Doncaster chairman eyes signings
Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan believes the club needs to sign a striker and midfielder if they are to push forward next season. Ryan told SSB: "I'll be talking with our manager Sean O'Driscoll in the next week and he will give me his thoughts on what he wants. "I think it is fairly obvious that we need another quality striker. "My view is I'd like to see a strong midfielder brought in. We have really missed Kevin Horlock all season."

Rovers' return for keeper Budtz
Wolverhampton Wanderers' on-loan goalkeeper Jan Budtz has returned to Doncaster Rovers. Doncaster invoked their 24-hour recall option on the Dane following Neil Sullivan's return to Leeds. "He came here with a great attitude and was fully prepared when we needed to call on him," said goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms. "He did everything we asked of him and has been a great lad to have around. He has done himself a lot of credit."

Doncaster want Cherries' Hayter
Doncaster Rovers manager Sean O'Driscoll has confirmed his interest in Bournemouth striker James Hayter. The 28-year-old is still under contract with the Cherries but O'Driscoll admits he would make a move if the player became available. O'Driscoll managed Hayter when he was in charge of Bournemouth. "James is a player I know well from my time at Bournemouth and I'd be keen to bring him here if it was possible," O'Driscoll told SSB.

Doncaster hand extension to Smith
Doncaster goalkeeper Ben Smith has signed a contract extension which ties him to the Keepmoat Stadium until 2009. Former Newcastle and Stockport stopper Smith, 20, joined Rovers initially on non-contract terms last August before earning a longer deal. He made 23 league and cup appearances for the Yorkshire side last season. "I'm now looking forward to working my hardest and start to challenge Neil Sullivan for the starting spot," he told Doncaster's website.

Double injury blow hits Doncaster
Doncaster defender Matthew Noble and midfielder Kevin Horlock have both been ruled out for lengthy spells. The pair have both undergone further treatment on their respective injuries and are likely to be out of action for a number of weeks. "Kevin had to go in for a second lot of shoulder surgery on Tuesday," said team physio John Dickens. "Matthew Noble has a fractured bone in his wrist and has also had a pin put into it on Tuesday."

Imps set to sign Doncaster keeper
Lincoln are set to sign Doncaster goalkeeper Ben Smith on a month's loan. The Imps are awaiting confirmation from the Football League that the deal can go through and he can become new manager Peter Jackson's first signing. Smith, 21, joined Rovers from Stockport in the summer, and was handed a contract extension during the summer. But despite starting 13 league games last season, he has been restricted to just two Johnstone's Paint Trophy appearances this term.

Grimsby sign Doncaster defender
Grimsby manager Alan Buckley has signed Doncaster defender Sam Hird on a one-month loan deal. The former Leeds trainee has found first-team games hard to come by this season, making only three appearances for Sean O'Driscoll's side. Hird enjoyed a successful loan spell at the Keepmoat Stadium from Leeds towards the end of last season. The 20-year-old was signed permanently by Rovers in the summer after he was released by the Elland Road outfit.

Fresh injury blow for Heffernan
Doncaster Rovers striker Paul Heffernan will be out of action for up to five weeks after it was confirmed he had sustained ligament damage to his ankle. Last season's top-scorer picked up his latest injury during Doncaster's 3-1 win at Port Vale on 24 November. Heffernan has been blighted by problems this season having already suffered a groin strain and a broken hand. The 25-year-old Irishman was starting to put a run of games together but his injury jinx has struck again.

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