Reading striker Jason Roberts admitted he was sad to hear of Brian McDermott's sacking as manager.
McDermott was axed earlier on Monday with Reading four points adrift of safety after suffering their fourth successive defeat against fellow strugglers Aston Villa on Saturday.
Roberts admits he was shocked by the news and he paid tribute to the job McDermott has done at the Madejski Stadium after guiding them to promotion to the Premier League last season.
"Well I am saddened," Roberts told Sky Sports News. "I hadn't heard anything about it I just found out earlier and as in most situations players are probably one of last people to find out about these things.
"I am saddened because he has been absolutely fantastic for us, been fantastic for me personally and for the club and I think he's been a victim of his own success in some ways.
"I am sure he is going to be disappointed but as you know in football it's a result business and I am sure he will say that as much as anybody else but as a player I am disappointed and it is a sad day for us."
Roberts believes McDermott deserves praise for what he has done at the club during his time in charge.
"It is always tough in these situations we are not party to the discussions had between the manager and whoever else," added Roberts.
"All we can do is just try and perform as best we can on the pitch and I think the performances we have given up to this point to allow Reading to be in Premier League and be in the position we are now have been over and above what people would have expected.
"In the Premier League certainly we would have liked to have done better and liked to have been out of relegation zone but from my point of view I think it is an important time to look back and feel the success what Brian has achieved, what this group of players have achieved with the club and take stock of what a great situation Reading find themselves in.
"At the moment we have got nine games to go there is an opportunity for us to remain in the premier league and we've absolutely done better than people would have expected certainly with the promotion and of course everyone wrote us off at the start of the season.
"With nine games to go we still have an opportunity to achieve Premier League survival.
"As a player it is just for me to place on record my thanks to Brian McDermott on what he has achieved and whatever goes from here on in we need to work hard and keep Reading in the Premier League because that is the goal and even Brian McDermott would say the same thing."
A host of names including Nigel Adkins and Paolo Di Canio have been linked with replacing McDermott, but Roberts wouldn't be drawn on who he wanted to get the job.
"It's not a decision we are party to," Roberts continued. "All we can do is concentrate on what we do on the pitch and on the training ground and do our best for Reading - I don't think anyone would say anything different.
"What we need to do is make sure we leave Reading in a good position, I think Brian McDermott has done that and I think we owe it to the club and owe it to Brian as much as anyone, to do the best we can."
The hosts hope Paul Quinn will be fit as the full-back is nursing a knock following the 2-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday and Rovers boss Dean Saunders will check on him before finalising his plans for Tuesday night.
Captain Rob Jones overcame the calf and ankle problems that forced him off at half-time in the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons to play the full 90 minutes against the Cherries.
Meanwhile, fellow centre-half Jamie McCombe has recovered from a fractured bone in his back and resumed training but he is not yet ready to be considered for first-team selection.
Winger Kyle Bennett will also miss out again as he recovers from a knee injury.
With snow forecast for Monday night, Doncaster will conduct a pitch inspection at midday on Tuesday to determine whether the game will go ahead.
New signing Mathieu Manset could be included in the Cumbrians' squad if the club receives international clearance in time.
But the 23-year-old Frenchman, recently with Swiss club Sion following his release in the summer from Reading, is only 80 per cent fit according to boss Greg Abbott.
Teenage striker Mark Beck is expected to lead the line in the absence of the suspended Lee Miller after scoring his sixth goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 home win over Brentford.
Miller will sit out the last game of his three-match ban following his recent dismissal against Notts County.
Matty Robson (groin) returned from a four-match injury lay-off against Brentford and is likely to continue and Abbott will be boosted by the return to contention of midfielder Liam Noble following illness.
Abbott has no other new injury or suspension problems.
