Flynn eager for Rovers to maintain momentum

Doncaster Rovers’ caretaker manager Brian Flynn still fondly recalls the first time he was parachuted into a managerial job.

“It was 1989, Wrexham were bottom of the League and I was still playing,” said the former Leeds United midfielder, who has been temporarily promoted from the role of advance scout.

“The chairman asked me to look after things for a couple of weeks. My missus pleaded with me not to do it, but I did, and 14 years later I’d broken all sorts of records at Wrexham for the right reasons.

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“What I took from that is you’ve got to accept a challenge and know what you’re getting into.

“So all these years on, this is another exciting challenge.”

Flynn has two games to convince the Doncaster board that he is worthy of continuing the job which his former protege Dean Saunders began.

But more importantly for the 57-year-old, who has also taken temporary charge of Wales in the past, the mission is purely to keep Rovers on a promotion course.

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That means ensuring an 11th away game without defeat at Stevenage today, which would set a new club record.

“(Today) is a big one to keep the momentum going and also to break the record,” said Flynn.

“And it’s nice to break records as a manager, as a club and as players. The away form has been spectacular and we’re capable of beating Stevenage.

“But records mean nothing if we don’t get promotion.”

Flynn will be assisted over the next two games by the club’s captain Rob Jones, who at 33 is at the opposite end of the managerial experience spectrum.

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Flynn said: “Rob has been very calm, which is a good sign. The most important thing for him is to concentrate on playing.

“All the other things surrounding managing will sort itself out in the future and he has shown me he has all the attributes to make a very good manager in the future.

“There’s certain times when we might disagree but that hasn’t happened yet. He’s his own man.

“He’s not a ‘yes’ man. He’s definitely not in that category. He’s eager to learn. We all blow our top now and then, managers especially, but Rob’s shown a calm quality that will serve him well in the future.”

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