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Dean Saunders: Wolves appoint Doncaster Rovers boss

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments107

Saunders sends Wolves warning

Wolves have appointed Doncaster boss Dean Saunders as their new manager.

Saunders succeeds , following the FA Cup exit at non-league Luton, having spent just half a season in charge.

The former Wales striker, 48, becomes the fourth boss at Molineux in under a year after , then the brief tenure of .

"We've moved quickly and we're now looking forward to working with Dean," chief executive Jez Moxey told BBC WM.

"We're not happy when we have to make a change of manager, especially when it's people who you respect and work well with.

"We're sorry it had to happen, but we felt it had to happen and we now have a different type of leader in Dean Saunders.

"Rightly or wrongly, and I know Stale has a different view, if you look back at our results, three wins in 18 games is just not good enough.

"We need some short-term success, rather than just thinking that everything is going to be OK tomorrow."

Compensation has been agreed for the 75-times capped Wales international on a rolling one-year contract - with his Wrexham and Doncaster number two Brian Carey once again as his assistant.

Norwegian Solbakken, 44, took over from Connor in July, but struggled to make an impact with the club sitting 18th in the Championship and was dismissed within hours of Saturday's shock Cup defeat.

Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Saunders, who began his managerial career at the Racecourse Ground while still number two to John Toshack at Wales, before joining Doncaster in September 2011.

During a season of internal turmoil at the Keepmoat Stadium, he was unable to prevent Rovers from being relegated to League One last season.

But he leaves them second in the table, having moved level on points with leaders Tranmere Rovers thanks to Saturday's

Doncaster chief executive Gavin Baldwin said:external-link "We have agreed a good deal for Doncaster Rovers.

"Work has already started on trying to find a replacement for Dean and to continue our push for promotion back to the Championship.

"I have spoken with Dean to thank him for the fantastic job he has done here at Doncaster and wish him well for the future."

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107 comments

  • Comment posted by DJ_FRAMBOISE, at 10:56 7 Jan 2013

    #30 "Get a big name in" all the big names are either working at top flight clubs or out of work for a reason. Best approach is to get a young up and coming manager - see what happened to Swansea and Norwich with that strategy. You want a big name - you get a Roy Keane and then suffer. Not sure about DS but it's happened and suggest he gets full support.

  • Comment posted by sausagenose60, at 11:18 7 Jan 2013

    Goldwolf bemoans the fact they've gone for an unproven manager but Brian McDermott, Steve Bruce and Alan Curbishley (twice) turned down the job prior to Solbkkaen's appointment. No manager of any real status wants the job because the board basically want a puppet who will do things there way. The one good thing is we've managed to dodge Alex McLeish - watch Forest plummet like a stone now.

  • Comment posted by U11660270, at 11:04 7 Jan 2013

    Dean Saunders eh? Always liked him as a player, despite his limitations but he was very inconsistent in terms of tactics and selection for Wrexham. We were in the play offs a couple of times, but so we should have with our squad in BSP. A manager with anything about him would have done much better. I'm afraid that Wolves are shooting themselves in the other foot with this appointment.

  • Comment posted by U14470806, at 10:57 7 Jan 2013

    The dilemma which "serious" Wolves fans have is that until the huge underlying off-field problems are addressed, and hopefully resolved, the new lick of paint won't make much difference.
    Currently Wolves are closer to Div1 than PL so success for Saunders will be avoiding the drop.

  • Comment posted by lglater, at 10:40 7 Jan 2013

    @8

    O'Driscoll has achieved nothing? He's got 2 clubs promoted in the lower leagues on very limited resources and kept Doncaster in the championship again on limited resources. He was also doing a good job at Forest as well. He would have definitely been my choice if I was the Wolves chairman.

    @26

    I certainly wouldn't call McGhee or Taylor safe hands anymore.

  • Comment posted by BearMcRowdy, at 09:48 7 Jan 2013

    Best of luck Dean. We need a steady finish to the season, avoid relegation and hopefully climb the table to a mid table finish. I suspect too much damage has been done this season to turn it completely around like Dowie did at Palace. Saunders, right or wrong appointment (time will tell), is now the manager and I would implore all other Wolves fans to stop moaning and get right behind him.

  • Comment posted by detailedcrane, at 15:40 7 Jan 2013

    The board members are to blame for our downfall - Mick was foolishly dismissed, It amazes me how fans oppose that decision. If O'hara and Frimpong were fit last season we could have stayed up and avoided this mess.
    Secondly, don't judge Saunders before he's even arrived. He wants to be at this club, and I think his personality alone could really lift us. Until we are proven wrong, support him.

  • Comment posted by Gravy, at 14:02 7 Jan 2013

    I'm an Albion fan and always do my best to be amicable in these situations. I hope Wolves can sort themselves out before long so we can have a proper Midlands (or Black Country) derby again in the Premiership - especially with how poor Villa look at the moment, teetering over the drop.

    I think you guys need to give this new bloke some time before calling for his sacking and see what he can do.

  • Comment posted by U6735068, at 11:48 7 Jan 2013

    I am a Wolves fan and will support the club no matter what. I will get behind Deano and support him until the very end, like I did with McCarthy and like I did with Solbakken.

    But the appointment is mystifying given the options. O'Driscoll has a track record of success and is a Wolves fan. The South Bank would have been right behind him - perhaps the biggest battle for any Wolves manager.

  • Comment posted by TheHarold, at 09:57 7 Jan 2013

    @3.richardliverpoolfc

    I'm not even sure what you just said even consitutes as English.

  • Comment posted by TheHarold, at 09:47 7 Jan 2013

    Doncaster were punching above their weight for many years in the Championship, and Saunders was on a hiding to nothing when he took over anyway. Yes they got relegated, but he's put them joint top at the moment, playing good football. Good young manager, exactly what Wolves need.

  • Comment posted by Brian h, at 09:27 7 Jan 2013

    The quality of football played at the Keepmoat under Saunders has been terrible, all long ball, no passing just boot boot boot. maybe that is what is required to get out of league 1 but disaster for the Championship, best of luck Wolves you will need it. You should have gone for SoD.

  • Comment posted by pjhb, at 18:07 7 Jan 2013

    It's not the results or the league position that were Solbakken's undoing , it was the gutless performances and evaporation of all hope. In the last four games the cumulative score was 1-9 including a game against non-league Luton. I'll be happy if we finish 18th but please God give us some goals and some belief we can score/win/ draw when we go a goal behind

  • Comment posted by U15565477, at 15:38 7 Jan 2013

    Wolves should never have sacked Mick lets hope now we can have somthing to cheer the rest of the season.

  • Comment posted by U15563551, at 14:02 7 Jan 2013

    Wolves are a vile and unpleasant club.

    We support our team through everything we get good home attendances in 1 of the poorest places in the country. I barely afford a ticket to go home and away and all the cup games and there as some teams that are from a richer area and there grounds always empty so vile and unpleasant should be shut up We are loyal Wolves Supporters!! Can't reply to that.

  • Comment posted by U15565306, at 13:34 7 Jan 2013

    Dean Saunders has always been a massive Wolves fan. Might treat myself to a new Wolves car air freshener at the weekend and some new gloves as my previous ones still smell of petrol. Onwards and upwards now, premiership here we come!!!

  • Comment posted by U14569148, at 12:41 7 Jan 2013

    They won't give him time. Its a four year job,they'll be screaming for his head this time next year if they're not in the top six in the Championship. His only chance is to get his own team on the pitch asap but even then Wolves have to attract players of a certain standard to a club whose supporters ritually abuse their own players and staff. Good luck to him,he'll need it.

  • Comment posted by YorkshireAnfieldfan, at 12:31 7 Jan 2013

    Thank you Dean for all you've done, hope you will be replaced soon by a decent manager who can carry on where you left off. Best of luck at Wolves, big club, big ambitions, i hope their fans give you a chance to climb the table

  • Comment posted by U15417362, at 11:42 7 Jan 2013

    Would have been better off sticking with Mick McCarthy

  • Comment posted by U14398633, at 11:26 7 Jan 2013

    @39 McLeish would have been a good appointment for Wolves, proven record in the Championship, proven ability to get results. His teams aren't pretty, but they're effective.

    Wolves are not going to play like Barcelona, so the priority has to be results.

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