Steve Evans admitted in an interview yesterday with BBC Radio Leeds’ Adam Pope that he had two footballing loves: Leeds United and Rotherham United.
The recently-departed Whites boss also took time out to wish new Rotherham boss Alan Stubbs good luck in the hotseat at the New York Stadium, telling the Daily Record the former Hibernian manager will love it at the Millers.
Speaking to the record, Evans stresses that Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart is a man of his word, something refreshing in modern football and when he makes a deal he sticks to it – even if it involves personal loss.
Evans spoke on one aspect of his contractual arrangement with Stewart that centred around the requirement for promotion and the bonuses that he would receive if he could guarantee Stewart and the Millers this eventuality. The bonus being settled on were the keys to the Rotherham supremo’s £168,000 Bentley.
Elaborating on this, Evans says: “The story behind the Bentley is that guys who were looking after me were negotiating with the chairman on my contract. The chairman rather tongue-in-cheek said he knew I loved the Bentley.
“Instead of talking about money and bonuses for getting Rotherham into the Championship and bearing in mind they were in League Two at the time he spoke about … the Bentley.
“Tony is an honourable man and he honoured his side of the bargain. I still have the Bentley to this day.”
Speaking of this honest and honourable side to the Rotherham chairman, Evans says that it will not be long before Stubbs gets to see this side of the man who is his direct employer. The Record say that Evans guarantees that departing Hibs manager Stubbs “will love working with Stewart” and that the good nature of Tony Stewart will soon make an impression on Stubbs.
On this Evans told the Record that: “Alan Stubbs will know soon Tony is a good man, although he’s worked with a decent guy in Rod Petrie at Hibs . I worked with Tony for four years at Rotherham and we had a great time.”
Evans also spoke about how, despite obviously having an affinity for Scottish football and clubs, that there could be no real comparisons made between England’s second tier competition and its equivalent north of the border. The former Leeds United boss also touched on the task facing Stubbs saying: “Alan will go into Rotherham trying to make sure they still have a place in the Championship 12 months from now. That will be his No.1 remit.
“He is leaving Hibs to work for a great club with fantastic fans and a great chairman. I can’t speak highly enough of Rotherham.
