Darren Moore and Doncaster Rovers still regarded as ideal centre for young players to develop

Recruitment during a difficult summer for lower-division clubs due to the financial ramifications of Covid-19 has ensured that there has been moderate activity at the Keepmoat Stadium thus far in the transfer window.

Moore is not one for panicking and while admitting that more new signings would have arrived in an ideal world, he is conscious that the market remains open until October in his quest to bring in his desired targets.

The Rovers chief’s reputation in developing and showing a duty of care to young players is well established from his time at West Brom – as is his adherence to technical football.

Many higher-division clubs recognise that emerging players in his possession improve and are ultimately in safe hands, with the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Ben Sheaf benefitting from their time on loan last term.

So far, Moore’s standing has helped the club recruit highly-regarded Stoke goalkeeper Josef Bursik – named in the England Under-21 squad this week _ and Brighton midfielder Taylor Richards on season-long loans.

Both players possess plenty of potential, with Moore believing that the ‘sky is the limit’ for both.

Meanwhile, former Kidderminster midfielder Ed Williams has signed a two-year deal after impressing on trial.

Rovers, the first Yorkshire club in action at the start of 2020-21 when they visit Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup tomorrow, have several active loan targets and Moore is maintaining regular contract with their clubs.

On the need for further recruitment, Moore, still assessing several triallists including former Rovers captain Andy Butler, commented: “Yes, still right across the team and we will continue to do that. At the same time, while looking across the team, there are certain individuals out there that we are looking to target.

“I understand the dynamics of the clubs where they are at and it is staying in contact and keeping the communication going. But in football, 24 hours is a long time and things change.”

On Bursik and Richards, he said: “We have two young players who, in terms of their footballing career ahead of them, can reach as far as the sky allows them to.

“Taylor adds versatility, flair, speed and technical ability, cleverness and great play. He is a great passer of the ball and has wonderful feet and possesses all those wonderful attributes that you associate with good footballers.”

Incoming recruitment is one thing, but keeping your star players is another, with Rovers having already fielded summer interest in talismanic captain Ben Whiteman.

The midfielder has been linked with several Championship sides including Barnsley and tomorrow’s opponents Blackburn Rovers.

Rovers chief executive Gavin Baldwin recently said that it would take an ‘exceptional’ offer for the club to agree to sell their star asset and Moore says that he is relatively relaxed about the situation.

He said: “We can understand (it) with Ben. We have had one or two sniffs for Ben and at the moment, the situation for those seeking Ben Whiteman has not been appealing to us because we value Ben very, very highly.

“We have a valuation of him and we know what that valuation is. Every player has got a valuation on his head and Ben is no different.”

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.