Doncaster await directions for Friday’s journey

DONCASTER ROVERS were last night still waiting to hear where Friday’s match with Coventry City will take place.
Phil ParkinsonPhil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson

The Sky Blues moved out of the Ricoh Arena over the weekend amid an on-going row with the stadium owners over unpaid rent that is set to return to the High Court today.

Doncaster have been in contact with Coventry, whose office staff have decamped to the club’s Ryton training ground, and it is expected the picture may become clearer after today’s court hearing.

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Coventry, who are facing a 10-point deduction after putting part of the business into administration last week, have been in discussions with the Football League over a possible temporary move elsewhere for the rest of the season.

Birmingham City’s St Andrews and Walsall’s Banks Stadium are the two favoured options, though sources in the Midlands suggest a resolution could still be found that allows the Doncaster game to go ahead at the Ricoh as planned.

Robbie Blake has left Rovers after having his contract cancelled by mutual consent.

The veteran striker has struggled to hold down a place since joining from Bolton Wanderers in the summer and has made just once appearance from the bench since mid-December.

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Meanwhile, Phil Parkinson is hoping Capital One Cup finalists Bradford City can use his Outstanding Managerial Achievement award from the Football League as a springboard for a late push up the League Two table.

The Bantams chief collected the award at a ceremony in London after beating off competition from Cardiff’s Malky Mackay, Southend’s Paul Sturrock – ironically sacked over the weekend – and Yeovil’s Gary Johnson.

He said: “I still haven’t given up hope of winning promotion. But if we don’t then we will come back stronger next season.”

City are seven points adrift of the play-offs with eight games remaining. Parkinson added: “We have got a tough challenge. Obviously the cup run has detracted from that. I would love to say we could have done it all, but sometimes it is not possible. But the lads have been terrific. What we have said to them is that when the last whistle goes after the last game of the season, we are going to have given absolutely everything to get into the play-off picture.

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“If not then the money we earned from the cup run will enable us to have a good go next year.”

City host Southend United, now managed by Phil Brown, on Good Friday and then travel to Torquay United on Easter Monday.

Hull City defender Paul McShane will not require surgery on the ankle injury that has prematurely ended his season.