Darren Moore replaced Grant McCann as Doncaster Rovers manager last summer and remains full of optimism after the 2019/20 campaign, which was brought to an early end.
Darren Moore Full of Optimism For Doncaster
Moore’s Appointment
Doncaster Rovers had reached the play-offs under the guidance of McCann in 2018/19, before his departure for Hull City at the end of that campaign.
Doncaster had come ever so close to making it to the final, where they’d have clashed with Sunderland. However, they fell short in dramatic fashion against Charlton Athletic, the eventual play-off winners.
After McCann’s exit, Doncaster Rovers were tasked with replacing a manager that led them to match their best FA Cup run.
Along came former player Darren Moore. A manager who had been tasked with the impossible of keeping West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League, before being sacked on their promotion chase. He was perhaps dismissed harshly by the Baggies.
West Brom’s loss was to be Doncaster’s gain. Replacing McCann with a rather high-profile appointment, as Moore had a glowing reputation so early in his managerial career.
2019/20 Campaign
Doncaster Rovers had a fairly good season, despite not matching the heights of the previous campaign. That was understandable, though. They did lose their main striker John Marquis to Portsmouth, who have subsequently reached the play-offs.
Moore has managed well with limited resources. Doncaster have relied on several loan signings. The likes of Queens Park Rangers‘ Seny Dieng, Arsenal‘s Ben Sheaf and Wolverhampton Wanderers pair Cameron John & Niall Ennis have particularly impressed. Aston Villa‘s Jacob Ramsey had a promising spell after joining in the winter window.
Moore’s Optimism
“We were well on our way to what we wanted to achieve,” Moore told the Doncaster Free Press. “The goal would have been to get in the play-offs and gatecrash it. Looking back on it, I’ve got nothing but optimism.
“It’s difficult to fully surmise it because we had ten games to go and thirty points still to play for. We had it all to play for. The team was in good form. It ticked all the right boxes in terms of a positive campaign for Rovers.
Moore added: “Now it’s about what we learn from it and what we can get right in the time we have to plan for next season.”
“You can’t talk about disappointments along the way because it’s about what you’ve learned from them and what you can put into practice now, for the next campaign. It will always be about constant improvement.”
“What I’m looking for is a team that tries to max out what we’re about and a club that tries to max out where they are.”
Still More to be Done
Moore was full of praise for the efforts of his players but demands that they work harder next season.
“There was hard work done for this campaign but there is going to be even more hard work done for the next one. That’s how it’s got to be.”
Main Photo
