Ambitious Saunders disappointed to be leaving Doncaster job unfinished

The manager had just seen his Rovers team go joint top of League One with Tranmere Rovers after a 1-0 home win over Colchester United when a call to chairman John Ryan revealed Wolverhampton’s interest.

A deal was swiftly completed and Saunders took charge of training at Molineux yesterday before facing the media for the first time.

“I’m really proud to be manager of the club,” Saunders said. “I’m a bit disappointed to be leaving some of the players behind (at Doncaster).

He added: “I persuaded 13 of them to sign for me during the summer.

“I’m determined, I’m ambitious. I want to get back into the Premier League, that’s the brief.

“There’s no reason why the team cannot climb up the league.

“Looking at the league table, we are up against it, where we are. But three results and it’s completely different.

“If you do that, you will be up there. We’re nine points off where we want to be.

“The players have to stop feeling sorry for themselves and work,” he added.

Saunders arrives at Molineux as Wolves’ fourth boss in less than a year after the dismissal of Mick McCarthy last February and the brief tenure of Terry Connor.

The former Wales striker gained coaching experience at Blackburn and Newcastle while he was also assistant manager to John Toshack in the international set-up for three years.

He began his management career with Wrexham in 2008 before taking over at Doncaster in September 2011 and although he was unable to prevent relegation from the Championship, he departs the Keepmoat Stadium with Rovers currently joint top of League One.

The 48-year-old has little time to settle in before Friday night’s home clash against managerless Blackburn.