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Latest News

Doncaster Rovers Manager Brian Flynn Has Big Plans for the Club

New Doncaster Rovers Manager Brian Flynn has cast more light on his plans to improve things at the club.

Last week Flynn told local reporters that he has a ‘big plan’ and has already set the wheels in motion, regardless of which division the club find themselves in.

Rovers, who currently sit 2nd in the League One table, only separated from leaders Tranmere on goal difference, are seeking an immediate return to the Championship after being relegated last summer.

However, Flynn insists that his ideas will not be dependent on their league status.

“What I intend to do here, in terms of my plans for the future, is to improve the fabric below the first team,” Flynn told The Sheffield Star.

“I want to improve the club basically, and build something for the long-term future of the club. I can’t go into great detail about it at the moment but it’ll definitely improve the club.”

“When you get into the Championship it’s something that the club must have,” he added. “I’m working for it to come to fruition in time for the Championship.”

Flynn’s comments have drawn speculation that he will attempt to re-install a second string side at Rovers which play in one of the U21 leagues.

Former Rovers boss Dean Saunders was a fan of reintroducing a reserve side at the club but their demotion from the Championship and loss of revenue forced him to abandon the idea.

Rovers currently run a youth development programme that boasts teams at every age group ranging from under-nines through to under-16s. The club’s under-18 team also play in the Football League Youth Alliance and currently sit second in the North East table behind Hull City.

One thing Flynn might wish to develop in the longer term is Academy status, although this would require a sizeable investment in resources and facilities. Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley all fielded teams in this season’s inaugural Professional Development League (PDL), a new national under-21s competition introduced as part of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), the new Academy system in England.

Having spent a large chunk of his management career working with young players, Flynn will be keen to bridge the gap between Doncaster’s youth team and first team, and an involvement in the PDL, a new four-tier academy structure, could help do that.

Flynn continued: “The youth setup is the lifeblood of the club. Producing your own players can be vital to a club.”

Meanwhile, youth teamer Chris Whincop returned to action following a five-month lay-off in a friendly on Monday. The teenage striker broke his leg against Notts County last September.

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