Title would crown dream decade for Doncaster’s Ryan

Victory at home to Notts County – coupled with dropped points for either Bournemouth or Brentford – would see Ryan’s ambition realised.

The first promotion campaign on his watch saw Rovers climb out of the Conference – the then 52-year-old Ryan even putting in a cameo performance as a substitute in a 4-2 win at Hereford United – and since then the chairman has not been afraid to get his hands dirty.

Ryan has enjoyed a hands-on role at the Keepmoat Stadium and, last season’s setback with relegation from the Championship aside, a successful time.

He has done it all, from selling programmes to shovelling snow, and this week he even put in a shift in the club’s ticket office to help sell tickets for tomorrow’s match with a 10,000-plus crowd expected.

“All hands to the pump, it’s a very big weekend,” said Ryan. “I think I have done every job at Doncaster Rovers over the years. I have sold programmes, even shovelled snow for the club.

“We have got Notts County and it is a game we must win. Then we have to wait and see how Bournemouth and Brentford get on; it’s two from three now.”

Second-placed Bournemouth host Carlisle United, while Brentford kick off at 5.20pm in front of the TV cameras at relegated Hartlepool United.

“If we win on Saturday, and either Brentford or Bournemouth don’t win, then we are up,” said Ryan. “It would be perfect to go and fight for the championship at Brentford (on the final day of the season).

“I hope we get promoted this weekend, but if we have to go to Brentford and get a result, so be it.

“Brentford is a very tough fixture; it’s the best home team against the best away team.

“The excitement is growing and we are hoping for a bumper gate on Saturday. It would be nice to get at least over 10,000 fans. It would be nice to be promoted in front of our own fans, but we may not know as Brentford don’t kick off until 5.20pm.

“But if Bournemouth don’t win, we will be up anyway. There’s so many permutations and I have tried them all. It’s two from three. Sheffield United drawing on Tuesday wasn’t enough, in my opinion.

“If we are the unlucky one, I fancy a play-off final against Sheffield United. But I really want to go up automatically, I don’t want to have to go through the play-offs again.”

Ryan took over the ailing South Yorkshire club in 1998, and has enjoyed plenty of success.

But the chairman hopes to avoid a Wembley play-off repeat of five years ago when Rovers beat Leeds United in the League One final.

Asked if winning the League One title would even surpass that Wembley experience, Ryan insisted: “Absolutely.

“I think those little gold medals are worth having. We won a league title in 2004 (the old Division Three title) and it would be lovely to have another one in 2013.

“That would make it four promotions for me as chairman, and just one relegation. And a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy to boot. I don’t think there’s many chairmen that have done that in a 10-year period.”

Following relegation last season, Rovers were unfancied in the promotion betting, but manager Brian Flynn has continued the fine work started by Dean Saunders, who left to join troubled Championship club Wolves in mid-season, and with two games remaining in a marathon season, the finishing line is in sight.

“It’s been a great season and I think we thoroughly deserve to go up,” said Ryan. “It will be sad if we miss out on the automatics.

“Nevertheless, if we end up in the play-offs I will be quite confident as we are very good at play-offs.

“I said at the start of the season if we finished in the top 10 it would be good. Dean Saunders did brilliant, picking up some great players like Rob Jones and David Cotterill. Now Brian has taken it on and we are all hopeful.”

If both Bournemouth and Brentford drop points tomorrow, it would open the door for fourth-placed Sheffield United, who have a game in hand, but who would need to win their remaining three games, starting tomorrow at Portsmouth.