Rovers set for early return

Rather than not returning to training until July as is usually the case, the Rovers players will be reporting back for a week's training at the start of June before resuming full-time at the end of the month. The players will be following individually tailored fitness programmes until then and assistant boss Richard O'Kelly is aware of how important the rest will be to his players. "They are having a couple of weeks off because it has been a tough 10 months straight through from the first week in July to last week," he told the Star. "The Championship has certainly been demanding and we feel it is very important that the players take a couple of weeks off. "Most players are of a similar mind because there is a good work ethic at the club and they'll keep themselves ticking over."