Paul Dickov: Doncaster sack manager after poor start to season

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Paul DickovImage source, Empics
Image caption,

Paul Dickov won 34 of the 113 matches Doncaster Rovers played with him in charge

League One side Doncaster Rovers have sacked manager Paul Dickov.

The team are 17th with only six points from their first six league games and lost 1-0 at Gillingham on Saturday.

"The board are ambitious for a top-six finish and that is, and will remain, our aim," said a club statement., external

"From today Rob Jones will take charge of first-team affairs on a temporary basis and the club has full confidence in Rob as we look forward to a tough game against Walsall this weekend."

Analysis - BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton

"The timing of the news is a surprise - Dickov signed several new players over the summer and there were no suggestions he was close to the sack at a 'meet the owners' meeting last week.

"Having said that, the fans were becoming increasingly restless. Doncaster were relegated from the Championship under Dickov and failed to win promotion last season.

"Caretaker boss Rob Jones has often talked of his desire to get into management one day. He will be a candidate for the full-time position. Whoever takes over will be expected to challenge for the play-offs."

Former Scotland international Dickov, 42, who played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Leicester and Blackburn during a lengthy playing career, was in his second managerial role.

He spent two-and-a-half years at Oldham and left in February 2013 before taking over at Doncaster in May 2013.

During his time in charge of Rovers, the club dropped down from the Championship to League One and he won 34 of the 113 matches the side played in all competitions.

In the opening game of this season, Dickov ordered his players to allow Bury to walk in an injury-time equaliser for a 1-1 draw.

Doncaster's Harry Forrester inadvertently scored when playing the ball back to the Bury goalkeeper, which then led to Leon Clarke dribbling from the centre circle to equalise unchallenged.

"I just felt the right thing for us to do was to go and let Bury score," said Dickov afterwards. "The one thing I wanted to do was to keep the good name of football and Doncaster Rovers intact."

Paul Dickov's managerial record

Team

Games

Won

Drew

Lost

Win ratio

Oldham (June 2010 - Feb 2013)

141

43

37

61

30%

Doncaster (May 2013 - Sept 2015)

113

34

30

49

30%

Figures are from all competitions

Despite their poor start in League One, Doncaster did knock out Championship side Leeds United on penalties in the first round of the League Cup before going out to Ipswich Town in the second round.

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