Corporal calls for unity and says sole focus remains Saturday's fixture.
Rob Jones heralded a new chapter at Doncaster Rovers ahead of Saturday’s trip to face high flying Walsall at Bescot Stadium on Saturday.The 35 year old has taken temporary charge after Paul Dickov departed as first team manager and said that the trip to the Black Country remains his sole focus.
“It is early and everyone wants to get off to a good start and that’s not been the case so we’re now looking forward to the next chapter and looking forward to Saturday, starting with a good performance, hopefully a good result and we can move on from there,” said Jones.
“It’s a group that’s desperate to do well, not just the players but the squad as a whole and the football club, and hopefully that can come at the weekend.
“I have a good bunch of players that I have the utmost respect for and have confidence in them as individuals, as a team and as a squad so I’m delighted to be in this position.”
Jones has previous experience of making the transition from player to dugout having assisted Brian Flynn for close to half of the successful 12/13 campaign but has ruled himself out of playing in the interim period due to his recovery from a neck injury.
“I’m older, wiser and more qualified than when I took over the first time. I was very new to the club the first time as I’d only been here 6 months but I’ve been here for three years now and know the ins and outs so only time will tell. We’ve had a great training session this morning, they’ve trained as I expected and we’re all looking forward to Saturday,” he said.
“I got the green light for my neck on Monday so I can resume training but I haven’t trained. It will be Rob Jones the manager this weekend.
“Walsall are a good side, they’ve started the season really well. It will be a difficult task as they’re really organised but it’s up to me and my players to counteract that and get the right result.”
The caretaker boss did not rule out a return for midfielder Richie Wellens but did call for a more “positive influence” from the veteran first, before giving one final rallying call to supporters.
“Richie Wellens played for my 21’s (development) on Tuesday having called on Monday and asked to play,” said Jones.
“He played and did well to be fair as he’s not done a lot of training in recent weeks and his fitness isn’t what it was before he went away.
“I spoke with Richie this morning and he’s come back in to the fold and trained really well but Richie has to sort a few things out first. He has to show me that he wants to be here and play for this football club and wants to be a positive influence around the football club.
“(As for the fans) Continue to support us as you have. The support of the football club is fantastic, it’s very passionate, as am I. It’s very vocal and it’s a great football club to be involved with and please continue to support us as you have, especially me over the last three years. When there’s been strange times for me personally they’ve helped me in every way possible. Lets move forward together, like I said before, we’re one big family so lets move forward together and lets move forward quickly.”