With Adam Brown, Jan Budtz, Liam Green, Rob Pacey, Jon-Paul Pittman, and Sean Thornton released,[2] several new players were brought in for the beginning of the season.

James Hayter was bought from Bournemouth, Gordon Greer came from Kilmarnock, free agents Sam Hird and Neil Sullivan came from Leeds, Richie Wellens from Oldham, Martin Woods from Rotherham, and Matt Mills was loaned from Manchester City.

[2] The play-off final was at the new Wembley against a Leeds side that had failed to get an automatic place partly following a pre-season 15 point deduction for exiting administration without a CVA.

[2] From a Brian Stock corner, James Hayter headed in the only goal of the match in the 47th minute and Doncaster were promoted to the second tier after an absence of 50 years[4] when they had been relegated at the end of the 1957–58 season.

[5] During the season it was announced that Terry Bramall and Dick Watson had become equal controlling shareholders alongside John Ryan.