Doncaster Rovers

Doncaster Rovers
Roberts commits to Doncaster move Stephen Roberts joins his brother Neil at Doncaster Wrexham defender Stephen Roberts has confirmed to manager Denis Smith that he will join up with his striker brother Neil at Doncaster Rovers. News of his move filtered out last week, to the surprise of Smith. Roberts, 25, was out of contract at Wrexham and keen to secure his future after the club entered administration. "He has done the right thing and told us about the move, now I can set about confirming my retain list," Smith told BBC Sport Wales. Wales international Roberts played a part in Wrexham's LDV Vans Trophy success and has made more than 100 appearances for the Welsh club.

Warrington surgery is successful
Doncaster keeper Andy Warrington is hoping to return to fitness for next season after double hernia surgery. Physio Baz Windle told Rovers' website that it had been a surprise to discover two hernias rather than one, but the surgery was successful. Meanwhile, Doncaster have announced a provisional list of pre-season friendlies - starting at non-League Billingham Synthonia on 11 July. Rovers also face Peterborough, Notts County, Grimsby and Worksop Town.

Chester bid for Doncaster striker
Doncaster Rovers are considering an undisclosed six-figure bid from Chester City for striker Gregg Blundell. The 29-year-old has scored 32 times in 96 senior appearances since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003. Having joined when they were in the Conference, he has helped Dave Penney's side earn back-to-back promotions. Keith Curle, who was appointed as City's manager just before the end of the season, recently revealed plans for a mass clear-out at the Deva Stadium.

Doncaster pair extend their deals
Doncaster duo Tim Ryan and Ricky Ravenhill have signed 12-month extensions to their contracts. Defender Ryan, 30, and midfielder Ravenhill, 24, will now stay on at Belle Vue until at least June 2007. Ryan has started nearly 200 games since joining Rovers for a second spell five years ago, while Ravenhill has made more than 100 appearances for the club. Meanwhile, Doncaster manager Dave Penney says he is close to agreeing deals with two potential new signings.

Doncaster in twin keeper capture
Doncaster Rovers have completed the signing of two Danish goalkeepers. Jan Budtz, 26, has joined from FC Nordsjaelland and 21-year-old Tonny Nielsen, who is six foot seven inches tall, has arrived from Fremard Amager. "I am delighted to join a club with great potential and a new stadium," Budtz told the club's website. "I think it is a great opportunity to show what I can do in one of the best leagues in the world. I am looking forward to the challenge."

Heffernan seals move to Doncaster
Bristol City striker Paul Heffernan has completed a £125,000 move to League One rivals Doncaster Rovers. The Robins had accepted offers from Doncaster and Oldham and gave the 23-year-old a free choice over which club to choose. The signing of Marcus Stewart means that Heffernan is unlikely to feature in City's front line next season. The Irish striker made 13 starts and 18 substitute appearances for City last season, scoring seven goals. City chief executive Colin Sexstone told the club's website that Heffernan was unfortunate not to play more games for the club last season. "He never complained and always had a professional attitude," he said.

Penney seeks Doolan replacement
Doncaster manager Dave Penney is stepping up his search for new players - with a midfield replacement for Blackpool-bound John Doolan a priority. The 31-year-old recently agreed to join Blackpool, on a one-year contract with an option for a further year, when his Rovers contract expires this summer. Penney told Rovers' website: "We have a few players in the pipeline. "But I won't disclose them until they put pen to paper, as we don't want to alert other clubs to our interest." Penney has already tied up moves for Bristol City striker Paul Heffernan, Wrexham defender Stephen Roberts, and Danish goalkeepers Jan Budtz and Tommy Nielsen.

Blundell's Chester move collapses
Chester have failed in their bid to sign Doncaster striker Gregg Blundell. Rovers had accepted an undisclosed six-figure bid from City for the 29-year-old, but talks between the player and Chester have broken down. "Gregg's move has not worked out so at this moment he will rejoin the squad when the players return and fight for his place," boss Dave Penney said. Blundell has scored 32 times in 96 senior appearances since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003.

Penney rubbishes Derby job link
Doncaster boss Dave Penney has ruled himself out of the running to be the next manager of Derby County. Penney, 40, who spent four years at Derby in the late 1980s, says he wants to continue his work at Rovers. "As I'm a young manager and because of my time as a player at Derby, people have made the connection," Penney told the Derby Evening Telegraph. "I've got three years left on my contract here and as far as I'm concerned the job is only half done."

Carlisle fail in new Blundell bid
Carlisle have cooled off their interest in Doncaster striker Gregg Blundell after having a third bid rejected. Cumbrians boss Paul Simpson has been chasing the 29-year-old for several weeks and put an improved offer to Rovers for him last Friday. "I believe their valuation to be too much so I am taking a step back from it, at the moment," Simpson said. Chester had a six-figure bid for the player accepted earlier this month but could not agree terms with him. Blundell has scored 28 goals in 86 league appearances for Doncaster since joining from Northwich in March 2003.

Penney demanding an end product
Dave Penney is urging his strikers to be more "ruthless" in front of goal to help propel Doncaster into play-off contention in the coming campaign. "We've reviewed last season and we probably drew too many home games," the Doncaster manager told BBC Sport. "If you turn three of those draws into wins that's six extra points which would have been enough to get into the play-offs. That's where we want to be. "We've always been very positive at home, but we need to be more ruthless." Two years ago Rovers were celebrating promotion to the Football League from the Conference but now, after a good finish to the season and 10th place in League One, they are eyeing promotion to the Championship. Penney pinpoints finishing as the big difference between the divisions Doncaster have played in in recent seasons and to that end has drafted in Paul Heffernan for £125,000 from Bristol City. "We tried to get him this time last year when he left Notts County but we had just come up and couldn't pay him the wages he could get at Bristol City," Penney added. "He's had a frustrating time there and is now surplus to requirements, but he still scored something like seven in 14 games. If he brings that sort of ratio to us I'd be delighted. "You don't get that many chances and when they come along you have to finish them off. We need to play with a bit more quality in the final third." Heffernan is one of four new faces along with defender Stephen Roberts and Danish goalkeepers Jan Budtz and Tonny Nielsen, however, Penney has a "couple of irons in the fire" as he looks to bring in some more players. "We need another four of five, in the midfield area especially, to have a decent chance of being successful. "We have a couple of offers in and are working hard to persuade people to drop down a level. "That's the main case now but we're looking forward to the new season and we're looking for a better start than last time when we took time to adjust, as we did the season before. "Then we were probably mid-table October time and it took the players and me time to settle down, but once we did we ended up winning it. "Last year, once we learned how to play this division we settled down again and finished strongly. Hopefully we can carry that on."

McGuire set for Doncaster switch
Aberdeen defender Phil McGuire has agreed to join Doncaster Rovers. The 25-year-old had been told by Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood his contract would not be renewed next summer. Hearts and Hibs showed interest in signing him, but he admitted that playing against Aberdeen would have been too difficult an experience. "I had a lot to consider, which is why I decided to wait before agreeing to join Doncaster," he told the Aberdeen Evening Express. "It was nice to have so many clubs interested in me but I have always been keen on playing down south. "I'm going to gain a lot of experience playing in England and I'm looking forward to the new challenge. "Doncaster are an ambitious club who have fantastic training facilities and a new stadium on the way. "They just missed out on the play-offs last season but hopefully I can help them do even better in the next campaign."

Thornton completes Doncaster move
Doncaster Rovers have broken their transfer record to sign Sunderland midfielder Sean Thornton. Rovers have paid £175,000 for the 22-year-old, eclipsing the fee for Bristol City striker Paul Heffernan. Thornton scored nine times in 49 league appearances for the Black Cats before being transfer-listed. Rovers chairman John Ryan told the club website: "This shows our determination to go for it this season by making this the best squad Rovers have ever had." Thornton has blamed a clash of personalities with manager Mick McCarthy for ending his career on Wearside. "I did not want to leave Sunderland," he told the Sunderland Echo. "I have been very happy here and the fans have been fantastic to me. "Having helped Sunderland to the Premiership, I wanted to stay on and play at the top. "There was a clash of personalities between me and the manager. As much as I wanted to stay, it was probably best that I move on."

Blundell set for Chester transfer
Chester will sign Doncaster striker Gregg Blundell for a club record £105,000 once passes a medical. Earlier in the summer Doncaster accepted a bid from Chester but talks over personal terms broke down. But now the 29-year-old, who has scored 32 times in 96 outings since joining Rovers from Northwich in March 2003, is bound for the Deva on a two-year deal. "It was good business to get a good price with one year of his contract left," said Rovers boss Dave Penney.

Doncaster set to miss out on Finn
Doncaster Rovers manager Dave Penney believes the deal to sign former Aberdeen midfielder Markus Heikenen is dead despite protracted contract talks. Penney told the club's official website: "It looks like Heikenen is going elsewhere, we tried our best and we thought we'd done it. "He shook hands with Mickey Walker on Tuesday and he was coming. "Markus had to go down to London to tidy a few things up and that rang a few alarm bells."

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