For the Dons, 2013 will largely be remembered for off-field matters rather than those on.
But the achievements on the pitch should not be overlooked.
After a period of acclimatisation to life in the Championship, the Dons thrived bringing some truly thrilling performances and memorable late fight backs.
The second half of the season showed the Dons are not among those just making up the numbers in the Championship.
Though they finished a good deal shy of fifth spot, there is the feeling if they can have a more consistent season that the top five is not beyond them.
With the introduction of promotion and relegation likely to come in 2015, it could be the turn of the Dons to dare to dream.
The year ahead will provide a major indication of how far the dream can stretch.
With Tony Miller gone, for the first time in a long time there is a new man at the helm.
Paul Cooke has undoubted potential as a coach if his leadership skills on the pitch are anything to go by.
Plus there is evidence from his influence at the Knights where he coaches the backs in a code he had no previous experience of.
One of his fellow coaches at Castle Park said the players had never had skills coaching as good – and that statement came after Cooke had been working there just one week.
The head coach position at the Dons could be the start of something big off the field for Cooke and the club. And then there is the matter of the club’s new owners.
Plenty of mystery remains about Doncaster Rovers’ buy out of the club and how that will play out.
With Carl Hall and John Scarrow staying on in positions of power, there is at least rugby league men providing a guiding hand.
But the true intentions for the club and motivations of the new owners are yet to be fully revealed.