Rovers chairman John Ryan confident of top ten finish

03 August 2010 17:14
Doncaster Rovers chairman John Ryan is optimistic that the club will be a top ten hit next season. "I'm very positive about the season; I feel that the Championship is as open as it has ever been," "I don't think the teams coming down from The Premiership are as powerful as in previous seasons."I think Middlesbrough will be strong but I'm not really sure who else will be up there - (Nottingham) Forest probably."Promoted Norwich might do well, but it is a new league and they might do absolute rubbish."Leeds United, who were also promoted, are a big-name club but they've not made any big signings so it is difficult to know how they will do."He added: "We've finished 14th and 12th in the last two seasons and if we could make it into the top ten then that would be fantastic achievement and obviously the top six would be even better."Reflecting on what has been a record-breaking pre-season for the club, Ryan said: "Obviously I'm delighted with the capture of Billy Sharp. We have also signed two or three other good players."It was disappointing to miss out on Jason Shackell who joined Barnsley, because after spending last season here on loan we thought that he would come to us after we agreed a fee with Wolves."But Barnsley were absolutely determined to beat us and offered him very high wages which we couldn't compete with."Time will tell whether it was a good move for him or not."Apart from Gareth Roberts we've not lost any players. We've got some very good players here and you always worry that you might lose them."There were one or two rumours that clubs were interested in some of our players, but as far as we are concerned the players are very happy here."It is disappointing that we'll start the season with three players injured, but hopefully they'll be back fairly soon."I'm very happy with the squad as it is and hopefully we'll get one or two in on loan later."Rovers remain keen on trialist centre-back Wayne Thomas but will not be pursuing their interest in the two Spanish trialists

Source: FOOTYMAD