Ryan plays on O'Driscoll's loyalty as managerial tug of war looms

JOHN RYAN believes the strength of the relationship he has developed with Sean O'Driscoll will keep the sought-after manager at Doncaster Rovers.

Rovers boss O'Driscoll has emerged as the favourite to succeed Gary Speed as manager of South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, and the manager's comments themselves have done little to dampen the speculation.

O'Driscoll said in the lead up to last Friday's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at the Keepmoat Stadium that he is keeping his options open.

But chairman Ryan – who brought O'Driscoll in from Bournemouth in 2006 to help continue Doncaster's rise from non-league which began less than a decade ago – is optimistic O'Driscoll will stick with Rovers.

O'Driscoll was heavily linked to Premier League Burnley last year and was pipped to the job by former Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws, and Ryan said: "I said to him after the Burnley situation that I'd always be honest with him, and if he wants to speak to other clubs, you can't stop them anyway.

"So he'll just have to get on with it. But I've made it clear to him that I think he's got a better prospect here than with Sheffield."

If O'Driscoll were to take the Blades post, and the Blades have expressed an interest in a manager known for his free-flowing football, he would mark the third manager to reign at Bramall Lane in just five months, a statistic that to Ryan emphasises the difference in stability at the respective clubs.

Ryan said: "We've worked together now for nearly five years, we have a history of keeping our managers and we're not changing them every five minutes.

"I'm not saying Sheffield would either, but I think he's got a good situation here.

"He's a great manager, great coach and he plays wonderful, entertaining football," he said.

"Obviously that's been recognised and I understand that. But I still feel that I was the one that plucked him from Bournemouth four or five years ago and I still think he's got a big job to do here."

Ryan revealed he has had no direct contact with the Blades as yet, but is expecting an official approach in the coming days.

He said: "There's definitely one coming. I'm braced for it but I'm very confident we'll keep our man."

Commenting on speculation linking him with the vacancy at Bramall Lane, O'Driscoll said: "Nobody's rung me up about the job so I can't really comment further."

He was more interested in the win over Boro that moved his side back up into the top half of the Championship table.

He had sympathy for Tony Mowbray's side after a last-gasp goal from Brian Stock earned his side victory. Stock, who has endured injury problems in recent seasons, pounced from 12 yards in the fourth minute of added time – his first goal since March 2009 – to condemn Boro to a ninth away loss this term.

Middlesbrough, who have now taken just four points out of a possible 33 on their travels, made a flying start when Scott McDonald put them ahead inside four minutes but in-form striker James Hayter – with his sixth goal in his last eight.

O'Driscoll said: "You have to feel a bit sorry for them for losing like that because they probably didn't deserve it on the night.

"It looked a bit ominous when we conceded after only four minutes and you wonder then whether the wheels might come off. But we always looked a threat and that was pleasing."

Middlesbrough manager Mowbray bemoaned his side's luck. He said: "I thought in the last 20 minutes of the second half we were the only side that were going to win the game so we were absolutely gutted to lose like that.

"We missed a few chances but I suppose at one point because of the way we played we wouldn't really have been content with the draw – but then we end up losing.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves, we just have to carry on battling as a team and keep working hard."