EVANS: It came as a shock to me

And he says tears were shed when the decision was made in the Millers' boardroom to part company, although Evans and club officials are still holding back on whether he jumped or was pushed.

"There was nothing on the radar in morning. We had our normal meeting, as we have done on a daily basis," he told the Advertiser.

"But rather than go into the detail of the meeting, afterwards the decision was made that we were heading in a different direction.

"Steve Evans has to make a decision for Steve Evans and Tony Stewart had to make a decision for Tony Stewart.

"There were things we couldn't get around but we have parted as the best friends.

"At the end of the meeting there were just Tony Stewart and myself. We hugged each other and shed a few tears and It was emotional to watch the chairman shedding tears.

"I've got nothing but positive things to say about the chairman and the players.

"We've had three and a half years of the most wonderful times."

The Millers dropped a bombshell yesterday when they announced the departure of the charismatic Scot at lunchtime. The players were told at the Roundwood training ground by chief operating officer Paul Douglas and Eric Black was handed the reins on a short-term basis.

The Millers' search for a new manager will now start in earnest with former Owl Stuart Gray the favourite.