Headline: Doncaster Rovers Manager Expresses Hurt Following FA Cup Exit
Doncaster Rovers manager Grant McCann expressed his disappointment after his team suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Kidderminster, a National League side, during the first round of the FA Cup.
The loss marked the fifth defeat in seven games for the Rovers, who faced elimination from the competition against a team ranked 41 places below them.
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During the match, some away supporters voiced their discontent, calling for an end to McCann’s three-and-a-half year tenure at the club.
McCann, who returned to Doncaster in May 2023 after previously leading them to the League Two title, stated, “The supporters come and pay their hard-earned money to watch us play.” He acknowledged the presence of around 700 fans who made the lengthy trip.
He added, “It’s hurt. It really hurts. They’re telling me I’m getting sacked in the morning. They’re telling the players they’re not fit to wear the shirt.”
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The manager noted, “I bought every single one of those players to the club, so that’s another indictment to me. The boys are really stinging and they’re massively hurting.”
Currently, Doncaster sits just outside the League One relegation zone, leading by only a point ahead of a crucial match against Leyton Orient this Saturday.
In the past four weeks, the Rovers have gained just one league point, stemming from a 2-0 win over local rivals Sheffield Wednesday, resulting in the dismissal of Owls boss Henrik Pedersen.
Just nine days ago, Doncaster faced a heavy thumping of 6-1 by MK Dons, which added pressure on McCann’s position. He remains optimistic, insisting that the team can only improve by working together.
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McCann concluded, “You can only affect what’s in front of you. The way of the world at this moment of time, particularly with social media, people want to knock you all the time. All we can do is we make sure we are united as a group and there’s a real siege mentality in there.”
