Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann has revealed details of a promising new connection with Premier League champions Liverpool.
The League Two side are set to build on their growing ties with elite-level clubs through a planned coaching visit involving McCann and assistant Cliff Byrne.
Rovers Coaching Staff Invited to Liverpool
Speaking about the arrangement at a recent supporters’ club AGM and in follow-up comments to local press, McCann confirmed that Liverpool extended an invitation for him and Byrne to lead a session with the Reds’ Under-21 players.
“We were out at a game last year and some of the coaches from Liverpool asked me and Cliff if we’d be interested in coming in,” said McCann. “They asked us to come in and take a coaching session and just have a look really at some of their under-21 players and deliver what we’re about at Doncaster Rovers.”
Although the session has yet to take place, McCann expressed eagerness to pursue the opportunity and highlighted the long-term value of building links with top-tier academies.
“We still haven’t done it but we’re very open to things like that. I think it’s important when you’ve got good relationships with these big Premier League clubs. We’ve managed to strike up good relations with a lot of Premier League sides which helps us if or when we need to get a young player in on loan.”
Strengthening Links With Top Clubs
Rovers have been proactive in cultivating development partnerships with elite clubs. Last season, Manchester United and Doncaster exchanged young players on short-term training stints, including Sam Straughan-Brown and Kasper Williams.
This new connection with Liverpool adds further weight to Doncaster’s growing reputation as a valuable environment for youth development. For McCann, it is also a personally meaningful link given his family background.
“My dad’s a big Liverpool fan. In Belfast when you’re growing up, you’re either Liverpool or Man United and then Rangers or Celtic. That’s the way it was and my dad obviously picked Liverpool and Rangers.”
Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot, lifted the Premier League title in 2024–25 and boast one of the country’s most productive academies. Any formal relationship between the two clubs could prove beneficial for Doncaster as they continue to evolve their football operations under McCann’s leadership.
Writer’s View
This is exactly the kind of strategic relationship that can benefit clubs like Doncaster Rovers both on and off the pitch. With Grant McCann’s experience and credibility, the club are positioning themselves as a trusted destination for Premier League youth talent.
A formalised link with Liverpool would be a significant coup and could yield long-term rewards in both player recruitment and coaching development. It’s a smart step forward that reflects Rovers’ ambition to punch above their weight.
