Rotherham United chairman optimistic after 'cocktail of disasters'

ROTHERHAM United chairman Tony Stewart is excited about the future despite the club's confirmed relegation from the Championship.
Millers chairman Tony Stewart has decisions to makeMillers chairman Tony Stewart has decisions to make
Millers chairman Tony Stewart has decisions to make

The Millers will play League One football next season after a three year stint in the second tier following yesterday's 1-0 home defeat to promotion chasing Fulham.

There is plenty to be sorted before next season kicks off including the manager situation, which Mr Stewart told us would be addressed in a club statement on Wednesday, with interim boss Paul Warne one of several candidates considered as a long-term appointment.

But the chairman is eager to learn from what has gone wrong this season, which he called a 'cocktail of disasters'. The Millers will likely finish bottom of the Championship and have picked up numerous unwanted records along the way.

"It's been a cocktail of disasters this season"

TONY STEWART

He exclusively told the Advertiser following the confirmation of relegation: "It is a sad day, it ends three years in the Championship, but I'm looking forward to regathering and making sure we have the right manager for next season.

"We say look, we've played Fulham, a lot of people including myself think we should have got something out of it, but the season has been very much that way, not just on the pitch but the fact  that we've had certain problems with players and managers. It's been a cocktail of disasters this season."

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Preparations for League One - including the recruitment of players - has already begun and Mr Stewart believes that relegation can be used as a tool to build a stronger club.

He said: "We've already started recruiting, we're well into the final stages of the recruitment so we have made a start on that.

"But I think next season will be about regrouping and making sure we don't lose the ambition. We'll be driving forward and making sure we can get back in the Championship but next time fitter, more able and with a squad that is rising stars instead of falling stars.

"I am optimistic, as I always am, that we will do what we need to do. I'm disappointed but I'm excited, because I think the fans will get more wins next season, there's no doubt about it.

"It will be nice to drop down a peg and start to climb that staircase again to the magical world of Championship football."