Donny drop Penney and want Keegan
City ban Thatcher
Whelan blasts Eriksson
—– Doncaster Rovers part company with manager Dave Penney.
Speculation suggests the parting was not entirely by mutual consent, especially as coach Mickey Lewis also leaves Belle Vue.
Only four months away from moving to a new stadium, the former Rovers midfielder departs after five games of the League One season with them in 15th position.
When Penney took over in January 2002, after the most traumatic period in their history, Rovers were languishing in the depths of the Conference but last season finished in their highest league position for fifty years and beat two Premiership clubs in reaching the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
Director of football Mickey Walker is named caretaker manager.
Ambitious chairman John Ryan reveals that he would just love it to appoint Doncaster’s most famous footballing son: “Kevin Keegan is the man I want as manager. It’s the sort of challenge that would appeal to him.”
55 year-old Keegan has been out of football since departing Manchester City 17 months ago.
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—– Following his horrendous challenge on Pedro Mendes during the game with Portsmouth last week, Manchester City ban their defender Ben Thatcher for six matches and fine him six weeks’ wages.
The internal club punishment is separate from any Football Association sanction. Two of the matches and week’s wages are suspended.
Mendes, who was left unconscious and needing hospital treatment, had already stated he will not pursue a legal claim for the assault.
—– As Wigan Athletic continue to prosper in the Premiership, chairman Dave Whelan receives the freedom of Wigan borough.
Speaking at a ceremony at Wigan’s town hall, the Latics’ supremo continued his outspoken attack on former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Whelan strongly believes Eriksson should have been dismissed before the World Cup due to his well-documented off-the-field activities: “We could have walked away from the contract we had, we would have done a lot better at the World Cup.
“The FA missed a golden opportunity to get rid of probably the worst manager England have ever, ever had.
“Brian Barwick has a hell of a task on there, he has to knock some sense into the FA. It’s not going to be easy.”
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