Doncaster Rovers should fear losing one man this season, but it’s not Owen Bailey

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Doncaster Rovers have been taking the EFL by storm over the past few years and their impressive start to life in League One has got other clubs on notice.

They dropped down to League Two back in 2021/22, and it took Doncaster Rovers three seasons to bounce back.

But, winning the fourth tier title last season has been the platform upon which Rovers and their manager Grant McCann have built now.

The Yorkshire outfit are currently ninth in the League One table after ten matches. Promotion was never really on the cards in 2025/26, but there is now a very real possibility that McCann and his team could achieve back-to-back success.

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Grant McCann will be a wanted man

Given the quickfire success Doncaster Rovers have enjoyed since climbing back to the third tier, we picked the brain of our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey to see what the future may hold.

While Owen Bailey is the star man right now, with five goals so far this season, our own Bailey suggested Doncaster will struggle to keep hold of their manager.

He said: “Owen Bailey is doing well, he’s had a wonderful start to the season. Obviously a lot will depend on where Doncaster are come January. I think for Doncaster the biggest thing with them is keeping Grant McCann.

“I think of all the assets they’ve got – I think Bailey’s doing well, James Maxwell, the full-back, I think is attracting a bit of interest as well – but I think keeping Grant McCann’s big for them.

“He’s doing a superb job and there will be interest elsewhere in him. I think there is already. But, I think they’ll be hoping that they’re giving this a good go now. And Doncaster are very interesting, they’re one to keep an eye out for.”

Grant McCann has been with Rovers since May 2023 and has earned plenty of plaudits in his two-and-a-half year stint. With 66 wins from 129 games, at a win rate of 51.16%, it’s easy to see why clubs in the Championship could well have the Northern Irishman on their shortlist.

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The Doncaster Rovers journey is incredible

It’s now been more than ten years since we last saw Doncaster Rovers in the second tier. A four-year stay at that level was ended in 2011/12 when they finished rock bottom of the division.

Promotion the following year only offered a brief reprieve, with Doncaster again dropping down in 2013/14. Rovers have been up and down ever since, but now they finally appear to have some stability.

With a strong squad that blends experience and youth, a talented manager, and a devoted fanbase, there’s no reason why Doncaster Rovers can’t make it back to the Championship this season.

The only problem is, they’ll have to leapfrog the other newly-promoted teams, AFC Wimbledon and Bradford City, first.