- 08/05/2025
Ricky and Robbie chat all things Rovers after they clinched the League Two title.
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00:00Hello and welcome along to the latest episode of Rovers Chat, joined as ever by Robbie Andrews from Radio Sheffield.
00:07Robbie, how are we doing? Have you got over the celebrations yet?
00:10Yeah, good thanks, Ricky. Not quite, maybe just still taking it all in, watching all the videos, doing the rounds on social media
00:18and making the celebrations last for as long as possible, I think.
00:22Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I mean, I think the last time we did one of these chats was prior to the Bradford game,
00:28weren't it, a couple of weeks ago? And we said, you know, next time we talk, hopefully we're talking about Rovers going up.
00:34I don't think anyone kind of foresaw that they were going to win the league by four points in the end.
00:40I mean, it's mad how it finished, but I think they're the only team really that kind of turned up, weren't they, from Easter onwards.
00:46Everyone else faltered, as we know. A few others scraped over the line, but Rovers were kind of in the end.
00:53You know, in a season where nobody seemed to want to win it, they were the ones that actually put their hand up
00:58and did so at the end.
01:00Yeah, and they proved Grant McCann right, didn't they?
01:02And the fact that it only really matters where you are after 46 games.
01:06Well, from Rovers' point of view, from game 41, 42 onwards, they were the ones who really kicked into gear.
01:14I think up until that point, maybe they were among the chasing pack, weren't they?
01:19And everyone's looking at each other, thinking, right, which one of us is really going to steal a march here?
01:24I think from the draw at Salford, which was, you know, disappointing, it felt like Rovers had missed an opportunity,
01:30given it was a game in hand. I know it's an away game and a 2-1 at that.
01:34But from that point on, I think we'd said before that there were questions being asked.
01:38They were answered over Easter.
01:40And from that point on, there was never any doubt, really, was there?
01:43Certainly not about the promotion.
01:44Obviously, there was still plenty to play for on the final day.
01:47But even that, they may look relatively straightforward.
01:52Absolutely, yeah.
01:53I mean, the Bradford game, you know, I think we all spoke about before.
01:56It felt inevitable that it was going to go down to the last day.
01:59Then it just so happens that, you know, Rovers can get it done against Bradford in, obviously, the last, or the penultimate game, sorry.
02:06And the fact that they did that, and then obviously, I think the fact that it was Notts County and, you know,
02:11they weren't on the beach, were they?
02:12Notts County themselves, as it turns out, could have got into the top three on the last day.
02:17I think that kind of helped, didn't it, with, you know, that kind of, that last little character dangle before, you know,
02:23they go off and celebrate.
02:25And certainly, in terms of the performance, you know, two ones are misleading to go on, isn't it?
02:30Yeah, much had been made, I think, all season about the fact Rovers had Bradford and Notts County the last two games.
02:35It was almost like, well, you want to have it done by that point.
02:39But the fact Rovers were going into it really at full tilt, played into their hands.
02:43I think, yeah, the Bradford game up against 10 men.
02:46I think that second half against Bradford was probably the first sign of, not nerves, but it was a little cagey, wasn't it?
02:52Rovers maybe a bit stuck between a rock and a hard place as to how to approach it against 10 men.
02:58Obviously, Bradford had had Baldwin sent off at half-time, but they got themselves in front.
03:04So, it was almost, do we hold on to this or do we go for a second and risk being exposed?
03:08And in the end, they needed that second to come in injury time.
03:11I think, yeah, the goal back for Bradford maybe flattered them slightly.
03:14But, yeah, I think coming up against teams who were in and around them, even Colchester were chasing the playoffs as well, weren't they?
03:21And that just seemed to bring the best out of Rovers.
03:24And especially Grant McCann as well, who seemed to relish that challenge of overcoming some of the best teams in the league right when it mattered at the business end.
03:33Yeah, absolutely.
03:34Yeah, a question I've asked to a few of the players we've spoke to in the last week or so, but I'll ask it to you.
03:38What was the game where you think you look back across the season and, you know, nobody's saying it was perfect.
03:43I know they finished champions, but strange old season, weren't it?
03:48But it was kind of punctuated with mostly away performances, weren't it?
03:53You know, for me, I think Bradford away was the one where you thought, right.
03:57And again, misleading because it was only 2-1, but they blew them away that day, didn't they?
04:01What, for you, would you say is kind of the performance where you thought it all came together over 90 minutes?
04:09Yeah, I think Colchester on Easter, even though it was really late in the season, Colchester at home,
04:14I think the level of control that Rovers had got themselves 2-0 up early on, the atmosphere around the eco-power was brilliant.
04:22And I think then feeding off other results as well.
04:25So we knew that Port Vale were losing.
04:27We knew that Bradford had given away another two-goal lead.
04:30And I think there were results like the Bradford away game where at the start of the season where you thought,
04:35yeah, hang on, Rovers are here to stay.
04:38Coupled also, though, with results like Bromley at home and Bromley away,
04:42where you then almost started to wonder, is it meant to be?
04:47But I think, yeah, that Colchester game at home, off the back of beating Tranmere so comfortably,
04:51I think even though Colchester at 2-0 had a fair bit of the ball,
04:55Rovers were almost just had them at arm's length and as if to say, well, we know we've got gears to move into.
05:01And I think players just seem to look a little bit taller.
05:05I think the partnership between Owen Bailey and Tom Anderson,
05:08despite almost being forced upon Rovers with injuries and suspensions and whatever,
05:13that seemed to be the pairing that they looked like they'd been together all season, didn't they?
05:19I think I made the point at the Bradford game that Tom Anderson almost seemed to relish that seniority of him being at centre-half
05:27alongside Owen Bailey, who we know has played there a lot, but not necessarily his most natural or most frequent position this season.
05:33And I think not just the results and the games and the way they were going, but also individual performances.
05:38You were looking around the team and thinking, hang on a minute, these lads are relishing this battle.
05:43Ted Sharman-Lowe is another one, you know, the penalty save against Bradford.
05:46Stepping up in big moments and really making it count and not letting it slip as well, which I think was a big thing.
05:53Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I know. Obviously, Luke Molineux kind of, you know, swept the board into the awards, the club's awards.
06:03For you, do you agree, player of the year? I mean, I went for Oluw prior to, kind of, you know, before his injury.
06:11I think if he'd have carried on the full season, I probably would have given Oluw for the whole.
06:15I'll probably change it now to Molineux. But I mean, there's more than two contenders, isn't there?
06:19Yeah, definitely. And I think Rob Street, for what he did over half a season, was incredible.
06:24I think there was a bit made about, you know, statement signing.
06:28I think Grant McCann made a bit of a joke about that, didn't he, at the end of the season,
06:32once Rovers were up and playing in League One again next season.
06:35But I think, yeah, when he came in, listen, his goal record wasn't a lot to shout home about when he first came to Rovers.
06:42He'd sort of done all right in dribs and drabs, but never really found that consistency of goals
06:47up until signing for Rovers. And Grant McCann's got a great knack, hasn't he,
06:51of getting the best out of players who have maybe had a tough time.
06:54You look at Adelican last season and Rob Street the same.
06:58But I think, yeah, in terms of the full season, Molineux, you know, more than 30 goals and assists.
07:03It was a travesty that he didn't win the League Two Player of the Year.
07:06I know we discussed that in the build-up to the awards the last time we spoke as well.
07:11But, yeah, I think Rob Street, you mentioned Owen Bailey already, who seems, I'm sure,
07:16will come on to the retainer shortly, but seems destined now to be Doncaster Rovers' captain as well.
07:21And Tom Anderson, who's almost had to bide his time.
07:24You know, it was Oluw and McGrath, wasn't it, for a long period of the season.
07:27And injuries have sort of come about as well.
07:30But I think, yeah, I think Molineux, without a doubt, has been head and shoulders and the best player.
07:35Not just for Rovers, but for me in League Two.
07:37But others, clearly, yeah, clearly disagree.
07:41Yeah, EFL, things otherwise.
07:43Yeah, nice segue there.
07:44You mentioned it, the retain list.
07:45I mean, it's kind of a by-product, isn't it, at this time of year?
07:49You know, you have all the celebrations and then literally bang the day after.
07:52You know, some players are released, there's others kind of up in the air.
07:57I think it's fair to say there were no massive surprises, though, was there, from the list they put out?
08:01No, I think with Richard Wood's injury problems and the fact it's sort of been a season
08:06where he hasn't been able to stay fit, has he, throughout the campaign.
08:10So, it almost seemed obvious that that was going to happen.
08:14And what a way for him to hang up his boots, you know, as a champion.
08:17It seems like the right decision all round.
08:19We'll see what's sort of next for him.
08:21I'm sure he seems, again, destined to become a coach, doesn't he?
08:24He's got that aura about him and that knowledge of the game as well.
08:28But, yeah, I think in terms of the players who've been offered new deals, Ian Lawler is a, I mean,
08:35I said I don't want to sort of downplay his role here, but as a number two, which, you know,
08:39he may well be again next season, he's a great player to have around the dressing room.
08:42He loves the club.
08:43He knows the club well enough.
08:44He's really experienced.
08:45And I think if anything had happened to Ted Sharman Lowe for a game or two,
08:50you'd have had no issues with Ian Lawler coming in.
08:53He's got that much experience in the game.
08:55And the others as well, they're all experienced, aren't they?
08:57Anderson and Sharp.
08:58When you're going into a new league, there'll be players in that Rovers dressing room
09:01who maybe haven't experienced League One and what it's all about.
09:04There's a lot of local derbies next season, a lot of big clubs.
09:07You know, you've got Cardiff coming down from the Championship.
09:09And I think you're going to need those wise heads, even if they're not playing 40 or 50 games next season.
09:16Listen, we're talking a little bit prematurely here.
09:18They've been offered new deals or discussions are in place, aren't they?
09:21So they haven't put pen to paper just yet.
09:23But if the ones who have been offered do accept, I think they'll be a real valuable asset to the dressing room.
09:29Of course, the big one is Oluwe, isn't it?
09:31Probably the only one who's not at that sort of age that Sharp is, that Anderson is and Lawler is.
09:37And Oluwe is the big one that the fans will be looking at, thinking, well, he's the one.
09:42I suppose with that potential sell-on value as well, you know, if Rovers can tie him down to a new deal,
09:48there's potential to get some money for him down the track as well.
09:51Because if he carries on at the rate he's going, he's going to become a phenomenal defender in the EFL.
09:57Yeah, agreed.
09:58Yeah, it'd be interesting, won't it?
09:59So we'll kind of see them trickle through in the next few days or weeks about those five.
10:04Bobby Fulton are another one.
10:06And, you know, if we'd kind of split in hairs, I mean, that was probably the one where people thought we're on the fence either way.
10:13I don't think anyone was massively surprised at the four young lads what ultimately got released.
10:18But Fulton is one that, you know, he's had a spell at Buxton.
10:21Red tape meant he couldn't play, you know, when there was obviously a centre-half injuries.
10:26Will Flint got recalled.
10:27But I think if Fulton hadn't been, you know, ineligible, it'd have been interesting to see whether he'd have got a stab at it.
10:35Yeah, and he's had to bide his time over the past couple of years.
10:38He played a few games under Gary McChefrey and then he's had injuries and been out on loan.
10:42I think there's clearly potential there.
10:44I think he went and trained with Man United a few years ago in sort of an agreement between the two clubs.
10:49He's very highly rated.
10:50And again, it's one of those for Rovers.
10:52I think smart business sense to try and tie him down to a new contract because you just never know.
10:57So a player like that, a sort of old school centre-half, if you like, he's got a lot of development in him.
11:04And you've got Cliff Byrne as assistant manager as well, a former centre-half himself.
11:08So somebody there who can sort of nurture him and try and bring him on.
11:13And of course, he's worked so often with Tom Anderson and he'll have trained with Richard Wood, however, many times.
11:18So I think it's worthwhile giving him a chance and giving him an opportunity.
11:22And if it doesn't work out, I don't think Rovers will have lost an awful lot by keeping a young player around who's clearly got potential.
11:31And I think they'll see it as a bit of a free hit, really, compared to some of the others.
11:36Yeah, definitely.
11:37Yeah.
11:37And then lastly, I know we've kind of touched on it already, but probably apt to give the final word on this episode to Richard Wood.
11:44I mean, you know, a really classy statement they put out, you know, prior to his retirement.
11:49And as he said, you know, he's kind of completed it now, hasn't he, if you like?
11:54You know, three, won the league now in terms of also going up as a runner-up and a multiple playoff winner.
12:01Yeah, I mean, just in terms of the service he's given to Rovers, he's not played as much as he wants to, has he?
12:06But you can just tell behind the scenes he'll have been as big as anybody in this promotion.
12:11Yeah, and he's completed the Football Heaven hat-trick promotion with Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and now Rovers as well.
12:19And I think, as you said, Ricky, the sort of, it tells a big tale about Richard Wood that although he hasn't played much this season,
12:26he's very much been in and around it.
12:28He's been part of the celebrations, but also a mark of the man as well that realising that he hasn't played much.
12:33So when the trophy lift was done at Notts County, he was, you know, professional enough to say to Owen Bailey,
12:38listen, you've won that armband more times than anybody this season.
12:42It's yours to go and lift.
12:43And I don't know about you, Ricky, but reading the statement yesterday, it sort of pulled on the heartstrings a little bit.
12:48Some of the, you know, the bits about his family and his children, seeing him sort of lift that trophy and it's all been for them.
12:55And he's sort of, yeah, there aren't many like Richard Wood still around, are they?
12:58I think somebody had mentioned the other day they were around when he made his Sheffield Wednesday debut.
13:02And however many years ago that was, it's been a while for him, hasn't it, to still be playing.
13:08I think he turns 40 this summer.
13:11He's been a great servant to everywhere, everywhere he's played, really.
13:14And I think Rovers, although they haven't got the best of him maybe on the pitch, I mean, from the, you know,
13:20they look at the 10-game winning run last season, he was certainly a big part of that.
13:23And that's probably what will last in the Rovers fans' memories of Richard Wood as well,
13:27being a big part of that 10-game winning run.
13:29And he goes out a champion and I think nobody will sort of say he doesn't deserve that
13:34because he's been worthy of it for the last couple of years, being a Rovers player.
13:38Yeah, I fully agree with all of that.
13:40I think most of all, probably most importantly, is, you know, you'll have spoken to him many times,
13:44I have in the last couple of years, you know, he's just a downsworth bloke, you know,
13:47there's no facade, there's no, you know, he's not a typical footballer, if you like.
13:51He's just a bang, you know, he uses the term bang average footballer, but he's more than that in terms of,
13:58as a person, you know, he's just a downsworth guy.
14:02And like you say, I think wherever he ends up, I know Rotherham's been kind of touted, you know,
14:06with Matt Amshaws, his connection there and they love him, don't they, at Rotherham.
14:10And so, yeah, you wouldn't be shocked, would you, to see him kind of end up there?
14:16No, and I think it comes up, the person he is, like you just mentioned, I think,
14:20within that statement yesterday, the fact that the old song, we won't go into all the lyrics,
14:25but the fact he was a head it and kick it centre half is something that he relished, isn't it?
14:29He loved the fact that he knew his limitations and I think every manager he worked with knew them as well,
14:34but that didn't take away from what he could give.
14:37So, he focused very much on what he could bring to the team rather than what he couldn't.
14:42And I think, yeah, wherever he ends up, we're going to be fortunate, aren't they,
14:46to get his sort of footballing knowledge and just the way he is as well,
14:49the way he carries himself, the way he is with the Rovers fans, with the younger players.
14:54I think wherever he ends up, as you said, whether it is Rotherham United or anywhere else,
14:58I think we'll be very lucky to have him.
15:01Absolutely, fully agree on that.
15:03Right, we'll wrap it up there.
15:05We've got, obviously, a lot of summer to kind of get through and, obviously,
15:09I know we're not touched on League One for next year,
15:11but I guess we'll kind of let it breathe at first, the celebrations.
15:15And I know that the players are certainly lapping it up, and rightly so.
15:20But, yeah, thanks for tuning in.
15:22Thanks for your time, Robert.
15:23And, as I said, we'll do another one of these when, hopefully,
15:26we can have some nice, positive thoughts towards Rovers being back in League One.
15:31So, yeah, thanks for tuning in, and we'll catch you again very soon.
15:35Soon.
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