Dickov out to clinch new deal at Doncaster Rovers

The Scot is impressing many in his maiden campaign in Championship management at Rovers, with the club on target to achieve the mandate he was given by the board when he took over last summer, namely avoiding relegation.

Fifth-from-bottom Rovers, who host derby rivals Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon, are five points clear of the drop zone with 10 matches to go, an impressive achievement given the behind-the-scenes turmoil in the first half of the season and operating on one of the smallest budgets in the division.

As it stands, Dickov is on a one-year rolling contract and while for other managers that would not represent much security given his commendable efforts, the former Oldham chief is staying focused and is confident he will get his rewards later this Spring.

Dickov said: “All I will ever want to do is prove myself. We will wait until the end of the season before we sort things out.

“I think it would be wrong to do it until we know exactly where we are going to be and what the targets are going to be next season.

“I love the job I am doing. Once we have done the job in hand, then we can talk.

“I am confident I can take care of this side of things. And if you do your job properly, then things fall into place.

“We are on target. Everyone at the start of the season made us favourites to go down and that’s something that drives you forward.

“What we have to do is keep our standards high. We know how quickly you can get sucked back in. Previously this season, when we have had three or four good results they have been followed up by some bad ones and we want to rectify that.”

Rovers are today seeking what would be only their second league double over Wednesday – the only previous one was in 2009-10 – with Dickov hoping that his side’s big-game mentality at the Keepmoat which has seen them sink the likes of Leicester and QPR, and also comprehensively defeat Wigan, can continue.

Dickov, whose side are unbeaten in the league at the Keepmoat since December 26, added: “Our home form has been fantastic and we are making the Keepmoat a real fortress. For us to go where we want to go, we need to keep it up between now and the end of the season when we have a lot of big games.”

On today’s test, he added: “Sheffield Wednesday are hitting a bit of form at the minute and Stuart (Gray) has done a fantastic job. It’s a derby game with a big atmosphere but, when there is a big atmosphere at the Keepmoat, we produce more often than not.

“It’s got the makings of a really exciting game. These are the games you have to embrace and enjoy.”

The Owls are also chasing a statistic of their own today, namely a hat-trick of league wins for the first time under Gray, who is also eyeing some payback after Rovers took the spoils at Hillsborough on September 28 thanks to Federico Macheda’s strike, in what was a quintessential ‘smash and grab raid’.

Gray said: “Doncaster got one over on us; we battered them and they nicked the game 1-0.

“We got done on a counter-attack. So my challenge to the players is that for me to feel better, we need to get three points.”

In contrast to Rovers’ impressive form on home soil, Leeds United are today looking to claim what would only be their second win in eight outings at Elland Road.

Millwall are the first of three teams from the bottom five due to visit Leeds in the next 10 days, Doncaster and Charlton Athletic being the other two opponents.

Today’s encounter with the Lions will be played out to a background of continuing uncertainty over the ownership of the club.

Massimo Cellino was last night still waiting to hear if the Football League is willing to ratify his planned £25m buyout, meaning United are effectively in limbo.

McDermott said: “I am getting support. We are all trying to support each other. Everybody together. David (Haigh, managing director), Massimo, we are all working together to get the right outcome.

“This has been going on and on and on for a long period of time. We want to get it resolved and sorted.

“You have to say that when we get through this, it is going to make us all a lot stronger. There is no doubt about that.

“All I can say is that we are all trying to work together to get to the same result and whatever is best for Leeds United. That is fundamental. It is really important we get the right outcome. That is all we want.”