Stuart Gray

5 candidates to become the next Rotherham manager

Neil Redfearn was sacked as manager of Rotherham United earlier today. He was only appointed to the role earlier this season, but chairman Tony Stewart felt that the club needed to act to try and preserve their Championship status.

That of course opens the door up for someone to take up the hot-seat at the New York Stadium. Stewart will probably have an idea on who he wants already but he’ll be receiving plenty of CV’s in the coming days for sure. We focus on five potential replacements for Redfearn.

Stuart Gray

Imagine telling your mate that Stuart Gray was the next manager of Rotherham United. You wouldn’t necessarily be shocked by this now would you? He would just fit the bill in terms of becoming the next Millers boss. He seems to have been around the Yorkshire scene quite prominently throughout his career. He played over 100 games for Barnsley. In his coaching career, he enjoyed a decent spell at Sheffield Wednesday as well. At the moment he is on the coaching staff at Fulham, but would surely relish a return to management. He knows the division very well and is the type of manager that Rotherham probably need to get them out of trouble. Again, he isn’t a glamorous name, but Rotherham just need someone to get them out of trouble. If anyone can, perhaps Gray can.

Neil Warnock

Maybe he just wants to have one last crack at management before calling it a day again? We all know he said QPR would be his last job earlier this season, but he clearly got the bug back after doing that. A Championship relegation scrap perhaps isn’t what he wants at this point of his life, but he can certainly bring about some short-term belief amongst the squad. Like Gray, he knows this level. There won’t be too many more experienced than Warnock in the coaching sphere as well so he knows what he is doing. Tony Stewart may want him to come in and ‘do a job’. It wouldn’t be a big surprise to see him return to management. He is an ex-Leeds boss, and Rotherham and Leeds seem to be swapping managers of late!

Chris Wilder

This would not be a tremendous surprise in one way, but in another it would. He used to play for the club so has a big affinity with them. He was strongly linked to the vacancy prior to Redfearn getting the job earlier this season. He distanced himself from the role back then, and this was when Northampton were at the very worst of their financial troubles. The Cobblers are now top of League Two and looking well on course to jump into League One next season. They could very well face Rotherham, and Wilder will be aware of that. He is another that is constantly linked with managerial vacancies. This is mainly because he has been a success in recent years, certainly in terms of win percentage. He deserves a crack in the Championship one day, but going back to Rotherham now is a big call.

Andrew Hughes

Hughes is the current first team/development coach with the Championship strugglers, so it is only natural he is mentioned for this role. He will almost certainly take over on a caretaker basis later this week, unless Tony Stewart has somebody else lined up. He is short on managerial experience, but had the briefest of brief roles as a caretaker manager at Bolton Wanderers last season. Hughes was a well respected player and he will no doubt carry on that mantra into his coaching career. He seems the type to command respect and he will get players playing for him. For all of his lack of managerial experience, he has plenty as a player and that has to count for something. If he is appointed caretaker, he may win a few games and it is an easy decision to keep him until the end of the season. We shall see.

Uwe Rosler

This is a name which has been thrown into the mix. Steve Evans left Rotherham and went to Leeds. Neil Redfearn left Leeds and went to Rotherham. Rosler was in charge at Leeds earlier this season before Evans and may now replace Redfearn at Rotherham. Confused? It would certainly send a few chuckles around the Yorkshire scene if Rosler is appointed as manager. He certainly is someone who can have an impact but you get the impression a relegation scrap in the Championship right now won’t be a perfect fit for Rosler and Rotherham. Give him a pre-season and he would be better suited. He would also want to change the style of play and that also may not suit. It is unlikely, but you never no.

 

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