Doncaster Rovers: Ferguson slams '˜absolutely horrendous' recruitment

Ferguson’s criticism - seemingly aimed at signings made by former boss Paul Dickov - came after Saturday’s defeat to Crewe which virtually confirmed Rovers’ relegation to League Two.

“I’ve got to sort out the recruitment,” said Ferguson.

“That’s a massive thing. We’ve got to make sure we bring the right players in.

“I think given time the players that I have brought in have made a big difference. I think the recruitment before that has been absolutely horrendous.

“There’ll be big changes,” he added.

“There’ll be players that I won’t feel are going to fit into what I want to do. There’ll be ones that we’ll obviously try and bring in.

“But the main thing is that I’ve got to make sure the recruitment is right. It [relegation] affects the quality of player that you’re going to get because a lot of the targets won’t want to drop into League Two.”

Dickov signed Andy Williams, Thorsten Stuckmann, Gary MacKenzie, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, Richard Chaplow and Dany N’Guessan last summer, before being sacked after six league games.

Since taking over, Ferguson has extended the contracts of Cedric Evina, Harry Middleton, Mitchell Lund, James Coppinger and Nathan Tyson.

Craig Alcock - last night named Rovers’ Player of the Year at the Star Football Awards - is Ferguson’s only permanent signing to date.

He has signed Conor Grant, Felipe Mattioni, Cameron Stewart, Chris Neal, Eddy Lecygne, Lynden Gooch, Riccardo Calder, Remi Matthews, Gary McSheffrey and Tommy Rowe on loan.

Rovers’ senior squad are virtually all under contract next season. The exception is back-up goalkeeper Marko Marosi, who failed to force his way into the team over the winter when Stuckmann picked up an injury.