Doncaster Rovers should take classy approach to player exit news even if next move is tough to take | OneFootball

There was one main lingering doubt heading into the summer for Doncaster Rovers, with the future of one of their stars up in the air.

There was one main lingering doubt heading into the summer for Doncaster Rovers, with the future of one of their stars up in the air.

Grant McCann’s men secured promotion into Sky Bet League One, winning the title on the final day of the season, and returning towards where they believe they belong.

However, the post-season has not been all positive for Doncaster with one exit in particular cutting deep into the squad.

Doncaster Rovers should give blessing to departing star

Centre-back Joseph Olowu opted not to sign a new contract with Rovers, ending a four-year stint in South Yorkshire.

The Nigerian-born Arsenal and Manchester United academy player shone throughout his time with Doncaster. From being one of the very few bright sparks in the team relegated to League Two in 2021/22 to solidifying his position as the club’s top central defender, Olowu has been top-notch every step of the way.

Despite an injury towards the end of his spell with Rovers meaning others such as Tom Anderson and make-shift defender Owen Bailey had to step up doing the run-in, he still played a pivotal part in the push towards promotion.

Olowu netted three times from the centre of defence, assisting two further goals in the league.

More importantly, he ranked highly among defenders at a similar level in tackling, duels and interceptions - all key aspects of a centre-back’s game. According to FotMob, Olowu won 191 duels at a 63% success rate and claimed 33 interceptions across the League One term.

He will now move on to a new club. And while the identity of his new employer remains unknown, with plenty of hunches and predictions floating around the Doncaster fanbase, Olowu should be given the well wishes of the Rovers faithful.

He has earned the step-up to a top League One side, which seems the most likely destination for Olowu, after toiling away in the fourth tier.

It was somewhat expected that Olowu, who has played 144 times for Rovers, would move on this summer irrespective of the league Doncaster would be playing in. He has proven his worth as a defender who can go on a marauding run forward when the opportunity arises, while also being a core aspect of McCann’s successful side thanks to his defensive skill.

Joseph Olowu has earned a big League One move

The move has been deserved. And, at 25, Olowu will be entering the peak years of his playing career, with it coming as no surprise he wants to make the most of that with a shift to a team further up the pyramid than a newly-promoted League One outfit.

However, while Doncaster fans should wish Olowu all the best in his new venture, that is only the case if the club he moves to is ‘bigger’.

By that metric, ‘bigger’ equates to a team challenge at the business end of the third tier, one looking up rather than seeking a season of consolidation back in the division like Rovers. His future remains a mystery while the transfer talk ramps up, but Olowu would no doubt be an asset to any number of clubs in the upper-echelons of a competitive League One.

The attention now turns to replacing Olowu at the Eco-Power Stadium, and patching up the gaping hole left in the Doncaster defence by his exit. That will not be an easy task.