Doncaster Rovers: James Coppinger excited for club’s future 'for first time in a long time'

Doncaster legend Coppinger led the recruitment process for a new boss and revealed his first hire since being appointed head of football operations in April had been on his radar since earlier this year.

“He was not someone we just stumbled upon,” said Coppinger, who had ex-Huddersfield chief Schofield on an initial list of three candidates of interest.

“I’ve spoken to quite a lot of people about him. I went into Huddersfield about eight months ago when he was the B team manager and there was a lot of good things said about him at the time.

“You look and think he would be fantastic for us if the opportunity came to take on this squad and this club.”

Schofield was subsequently hired – then quickly fired – by last season’s beaten Championship play-off finalists while Rovers gave Gary McSheffrey a chance to prove his worth at the start of the season after the club were relegated on his watch last term.

Coppinger said: “It’s part of my role to be looking. I know that football is what it is and things change quickly.

"For me it’s about having one eye on other things, what other head coaches and managers are doing and understanding what we need as a football club.”

Referencing the speedy appointment, which was finalised just two days after McSheffrey was sacked, Coppinger said: “We have an objective this season and it’s important the players have someone to manage them.”

The Doncaster board have made clear their expectation for ‘an entertaining and attacking approach’ from the team, who they feel ought to be challenging for promotion.

Although Schofield is yet to discuss how he wants his new side to play, Coppinger said: “We’ve got somebody who can lead the way, who can develop a methodology and way of playing that everyone can be proud of but also everybody can get on board with.

“It’s really exciting. For the first time in a long time I’m really excited for what is to come.”

The process to recruit an assistant to Schofield, who was out of work for just 36 days following his Terriers departure, is ‘ongoing’, Rovers say.

Youth coaches Chad Gribble and Paul Green took first-team training on Monday and Tuesday and will continue to assist Schofield in the meantime.

Coppinger urged the club’s players to ‘take the emotion’ out of the last few days, which saw McSheffrey and his assistant Steve Eyre axed on Monday after a sixth defeat in ten games.

He said: “It’s disappointing when the manager loses his job but from a players’ perspective it’s so important you take the emotion out of it and look forward.

"There will be a lot of players that want to prove they are good enough. There’s a lot of lads that weren’t playing that want to play, it’s always a fresh start for everybody.”