Doncaster Rovers: Pre-season Ferguson keeps his men close to home

Rovers are foregoing an international training camp this summer, with Ferguson opting to take his squad for a short spell in his native Scotland for the second successive year.

While warm and dry weather may not be guaranteed on the east coast of Scotland, Ferguson insists Rovers will find exactly what they need at their St Andrews base.

“I’m not a massive fan of taking them to Portugal or Spain,” Ferguson told The Star.

“I’ve done that in the past with Peterborough.

“Scotland was outstanding when we went last year and the players loved it.

“The facilities we’re going to this year at St Andrews are fantastic.

“Luckily we got good weather last year.”

Ferguson revealed Rovers will potentially play a friendly during their spell away, though it may be against an age-group side from north of the border.

They will head to Scotland on July 6, ahead of their friendly with Armthorpe Welfare on July 11.

He said: “We go up there on the Thursday and we might have a game on the Saturday.

“Then it’ll be back down here on the Monday.

“Those four days will be enough to break up pre-season, bed the new lads in and be 24/7 with the players, which is important.

“I think it’s important to get them away for a few days.”

Rovers next year look set to take their pre-season training camp to Thailand as part of their relationship with kit manufacturers FBT.

The possibility of making the trip this year was explored before they opted to delay it for 12 months.