Sharp Eyes Another Season Despite Doncaster Exit
Billy Sharp, the seasoned striker with 295 career goals, has expressed his desire to continue playing next season after Doncaster Rovers announced his departure at the end of the current campaign.
The 40-year-old played a pivotal role in Doncaster's promotion to League One last season during his third stint with the club. Sharp's professional journey began in 2004 with his hometown team Sheffield United, and since then, he has amassed a total of 295 senior goals.
"I can play on another year but I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do," Sharp told BBC Radio Sheffield. "I'm open to opportunities whether that's at another club playing or what. I'm gonna see.
"I've only ever been a free agent once and I ended up going to LA Galaxy.
"I'm quite looking forward to sitting on my sofa again having a shandy and a few nuts and my missus saying 'you better sign for someone'. I'm going to see what opportunities I can get and it's exciting.
"I love football and I love scoring goals. I'm going to leave it wide open."
Sharp has been a significant figure in English football, having scored his first Football League goal during a loan spell with Rushden & Diamonds in the fourth tier in February 2005.
He has scored in all four top divisions of English football. The 2023-24 season marks the only campaign since his senior debut in which he has not scored in English football, having spent the first half of the season playing in Major League Soccer with LA Galaxy.
During his third tenure with Sheffield United between 2016 and 2023, Sharp scored 109 goals in 282 league appearances, contributing to three promotions, including two ascents to the Premier League.
The strong performance of former Sheffield United teammate David McGoldrick, who has netted 15 goals in 35 League One matches for Barnsley this season, has encouraged Sharp to consider extending his playing career and possibly reuniting on the field.
"Players like Phil Jagielka [who played on to 40] kept me going and I kept him going and the people keeping me going now are people like David McGoldrick," Sharp said.
"He's been flying and Barnsley are missing him lately. I had a good chat with him yesterday and we're going to try and meet up soon and get a team together. I want to play with him again."
From Sharp-shooter to Calling the Shots?
Sharp has also revealed ambitions to transition into football management after retiring from playing. Now in his 22nd season of senior football, he believes his extensive experience can benefit younger players.
"I'm not going to hide away from it, I want to be a manager one day. I know I'm going to have to do work to get there but I've been doing that for the past 10 years," he said.
"I've been getting my diplomas and whenever I've been sat on the bench at Doncaster I've been looking at other managers at what they do and trying to learn from them.
"I'm meeting a lot of people and learning as I go along. I'm an ambitious person.
"I've got a lot of experience and I want to use that to go and influence other groups in the next parts of my career."
Despite his future managerial aspirations, Sharp remains focused on increasing his goal tally and potentially reaching the milestone of 300 career goals.
Doncaster, currently mid-table, are set to host Stevenage on Saturday before traveling to Peterborough for their final match next week.
A calf injury has sidelined Sharp for the past five weeks, but he hopes to participate in the final games and conclude his time at Doncaster, a club he describes as his "second home," on a high note.
"I've still got two games left and I've scored five goals in two games before so who is to say I can't do it?"
