When Dean Saunders was appointed manager of Doncaster in September 2011, he was immediately under the cosh. He had replaced Rovers' most successful manager in Sean O'Driscoll, despite having no Football League management expierence. He was forced to work with Willie McKay who's signings divided a dressing already depressed from a huge slump in form, linked with the injury crisis of the previous Spring. Signings like El-Hadji Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda, often under-performed throughout the campaign, as Rovers were relegated following a 4-3 defeat at home to Portsmouth.
With McKay out of the door following relegation with the vast majority of Rovers' first team squad. Diouf, Chimbonda, Beye, Stock, O'Connor and George Friend all departed as Saunders had a task to build a squad from scratch. Of the players still remaining only Martin Woods, Paul Keegan, Tommy Spurr, Kyle Bennett, Chris Brown Gary Woods and James Coppinger had featured for the club prior to Saunders' arrival. Yet with signings such as Cotterill, Rob Jones, Jamie McCombe, Paul Quinn, James Harper, David Syers, Billy Paynter and loanee Iain Hume they had drastically reduced the wage bill, but still recorded a 3-0 away win at Walsall on the opening day; and that was just the start.
Saunders leaves Rovers joint-top of League One and have not suffered an away defeat in eleven matches, allowing for a club record to be beaten if the club avoides defeat post-Saunders at Stevenage on Saturday.
Saunders was somewhat a surprise choice for the Wolverhampton board given his previous brief spell in the Championship, accumulating in the clubs' relegation. But it shows how successful the club has been this season, and Rovers' fans will understand the lure of such a large club would be difficult to turn down.
Rovers must now find themselves a new manager. Chairman John Ryan stated their had been around 50 applicants by Monday Evening, a figure which has surely increased in the days since. Of those 50 he declared "8-10 are first-class". He recalled how when Rovers were relegated from the Football League 15-years-ago, he had to beg a manager to come to Belle Vue.
But in a shiny new home, with average attendances over x5 larger and a potential promotion on the cards for any manager who maintains momentum for a couple of months, it's not difficult to understand why the large amounts of interest in the position.
Here are the contenders (odds as 12:31, 10th Jan 2013):
Mark Robins - 1/3 (StanJames)
A former manager at Rotherham and Barnsley where expectations were met whilst playing attractive football, Robins is now rebuilding Coventry City after a difficult start to the season both on and off the pitch. A dire financial situation at the Ricoh may tempt him to move on, aswell as a South Yorkshire past. However, following hiring of managers who the fans had barely heard of such as Dean Saunders and Sean O'Driscoll, any appointment of Robins would surely be too mainstream for John Ryan's eager-eye? However like SO'D a couple of weeks prior to managerial change, the managers' side beat Rovers convincingly in the League. O'Driscoll's Bournemouth beat Penney's Rovers 5-0 at Dean Court in 2006, whilst Robins' Coventry hit Saunders' high-flyers for four in December 2012.
Paul Dickov - 5/1 (BetVictor)
The former striker is currently managing Oldham amongst a sea of uncertainty. Athletic are currently battling relegation at the foot of League One, but having just lost his backgroom staff, Dickov may too be threatened and the opportunity at Doncaster may catch the eye for the young coach.Steve Lomas - 9/1 (StanJames)
A relatively unknown manager, Lomas took St Johnstone into the Europa League last season after a good finish, building on the work done by Derek McInnes and Owen Coyle in Perth. Linked with Crystal Palace, Burley and Bournemouth this season, Lomas may be tempted into management in England like his predecessors. His relatively unknown persona to Rovers fans is most likely of the leading candidates to fit John Ryans "who's he, then?" choice.
Owen Coyle - 12/1 (StanJames)
Despite success at Burley, Coyle was relegated with Bolton from the Premier League last season. He may be looking at a Championship club of similar size to Burnley, and Rovers could be six months away from being just that, with the opportunity of a promotion on the way. I suspect Coyle would hold out for an established Championship side however, and his wage demands would not fit with Rovers' offerings.
Glynn Snodin - 12/1 (StanJames)
Regarded as one of the best assistant managers in the game, former Rovers skipper Glynn admitted an interest in the Doncaster managers job on Radio Sheffield last night admitting the club is very close to his heart. Hired by John Ryan as assistant manager to brother Ian in 1998, he went on to Charlton, Southampton, West Ham, Leeds and Northern Ireland. He is currently first-team coach at Huddersfield Town.
Brian Flynn - 20/1 (StanJames)
When Glynn departed Rovers in 1985, Brian Flynn arrived at Belle Vue and shortly after became club captain. Following a spell as scout since the summer, the former Wales and Wrexham manager was installed as caretaker manager following Dean Saunders' exit. Approaching from within would maintain momentum aswell as having respect from the current squad aswell as plenty of expierence. Therefore Flynn would be my choice as the next Rovers manager.
