Rovers chairman John Ryan has spelt out the situation at the Keepmoat Stadium after agreeing a deal to sell Richie Wellens to Leicester City for a club-record fee.

Ruling out a big-money move of their own, the Rovers chairman told BBC Radio Sheffield: "The problem is that we had a deficit of £3.2m last year, we've got to live in the real world.

"A very good proportion of it [will go to manager Sean O'Driscoll] and don't forget the wages available as well."

Rovers therefore opened up their pre-season campaign at Armthorpe Welfare on Wednesday night without Wellens, who made 84 league appearances for the club.

"My time at Doncaster has probably been the best two years of my career," he said.

"I couldn't have picked a better club to go to or a better manage to work under.

"Doncaster have been great for my career and I wasn't looking to leave. But Leicester are a big club with a big fan base and are wanting to get back into the Premiership."