League Two title-winners Doncaster Rovers have announced the signing of former Leeds United and Barrow AFC midfielder Robbie Gotts on a two-year deal with an option to extend the contract by another year, as per the club’s official website.
The move comes after Barrow announced that they were still in negotiations with Gotts over his future when they published their retained list.
Gotts’ Career To Date
The versatile midfielder came through the youth ranks at Leeds United and he made his senior debut for the Whites in the 2019/20 season.
The Harrogate-born man only made three senior appearances for Leeds as he spent the 2020/21 season out on loan. Gotts initially joined Lincoln City, but he played just 371 minutes across 7 league appearances as he struggled in the third tier of English football.
He spent the second half of the season with Salford City and looked much more comfortable in League Two. Gotts played 23 times for the Ammies, scoring three goals and making two assists.
Following the expiry of his contract at Leeds, he joined Barrow in the summer of 2021 and has been a model of excellence and consistency for the Cumbrian outfit over the past four seasons. The midfielder has been particularly outstanding since the appointment of Andy Whing in January.
The Englishman has made 169 appearances for the Bluebirds, scoring nine times in the process.
Why Doncaster Rovers?
Although Barrow tried to keep ahold of one of their star players, they were defenceless once Doncaster came in for the 25-year-old.
Grant McCann’s side have just won promotion from the fourth tier and have been showing signs of great ambition in recent months. In what was a very intense title race, they finished four points clear of second-placed Port Vale and had a seven-point margin to the playoff spots.
The Rovers will be looking to emulate the likes of Stockport County and Wrexham AFC, who have been very successful in the third tier following their promotions.
Central midfield is an area in which the League Two champions are slightly lacking in depth.
The departures of Charlie Crew and Patrick Kelly upon the expiration of their loans leave the Rovers with George Broadbent, Harry Clifton and Owen Bailey as their main options in central midfield. But, Clifton prefers playing in a slightly more advanced role whilst Bailey has played a considerable number of games in the centre of defence.
Writer’s View
Gotts should be an excellent signing for Doncaster and the fact that they have secured his signature so early, the playoffs have not even concluded yet, is a sign of how well run they are off the pitch. His availability and tenacity will be an excellent asset for his new club and he should form a formidable midfield combination alongside Broadbent.
The move also presents an opportunity for the former Leeds United man to get back into the third tier, a level at which he struggled as a youngster, and prove that he is capable of playing higher up the pyramid.
As for Barrow, they will be devastated after losing one of their stalwarts and it will be a tough ask to replace him. Perhaps Whing will look to his former side, Solihull Moors, and attempt to sign Jamey Osborne or Sam Bowen to fill the void that Gotts has left.
