Grant McCann has been appointed as Doncaster Rovers manager, replacing Danny Schofield.
The former Hull City and Peterborough United boss has returned to the South Yorkshire side which he managed in 2018/19 when guiding them to the League One play-off semi-finals.
His return sees the club in a very different place though, having finished 18th in League Two in 2022/23.
He has been chosen to lead a rebuild with significant changes required at the club to get them back where they belong.
The move represents a surprise on Grant McCann’s part, a manager who has proven himself capable at Championship level with Hull, taking a step down to League Two, but it is with a club he knows well and has unfinished business with.
Grant McCann Returns as Doncaster Rovers Manager
We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Grant McCann as our new manager
Welcome back Grant
🔴⚪️ #drfc 🔴⚪️https://t.co/5mPG0SjcI3
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) May 12, 2023
‘One of the Happiest Times’ – Grant McCann on Doncaster
Upon returning to the Eco-Power Stadium, Grant McCann told the club website: “Once I heard of the interest, it was a tremendous opportunity for myself. After the phone calls came, I had a chat with my wife and the first thing she said was it was one of the happiest times she’d seen me when I was at Doncaster. That really hit home with me.
“I loved my time here. I enjoyed every minute and I’m looking forward to it.”
McCann, 48, won the League One title with Hull City in 2020/21 and was later dismissed with them 10 points clear of the relegation zone in the Championship after a takeover.
Read More: Former Coventry City and Bristol Rovers Midfielder Joins Doncaster Rovers as Free Agent
Doncaster chairman David Blunt added: “We are delighted to secure the return of Grant to the club.
“His previous season here was one of the most thrilling in recent memory, with a breathless brand of attacking, aggressive football that carried us into the brink of a play-off final.
“In his time away from the club, he has only developed as a manager and we know we are getting an even stronger version of Grant this time around.
“This is a very exciting time for the club, with Grant’s return and Terry (Bramall’s) injection of additional funds, and we are looking forward to a competitive season ahead.”
McCann’s Rovers pushed Charlton Athletic all the way in the League One play-off semi-finals in 2019 before losing out on penalties. Charlton went on to beat Sunderland in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Tough Task But ‘Significant Investment’ Promised
Doncaster Rovers are now a completely different proposition to the team he had firing on all cylinders in League One. They now lack quality and depth on the playing field and need a very good transfer window to get anywhere near the desired promotion.
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Grant McCann’s appointment is very much a start towards that ambition but it’s clear that the ‘significant investment’ promised by owner Terry Bramall in April needs to come and with it some quality additions.
The club lost 2-1 to Walsall on the final day of the season earlier this week, taking their run under now-former head coach Schofield to just two wins from their last 16 games.
Notably, McCann has also been named as manager as opposed to head coach.
