A break and then decision time as Rotherham United boss Paul Warne feels the pain of coming so close to staying up

Paul Warne after the final whistle in Cardiff. Picture by Jim Brailsford

Chairman Tony Stewart has already stated publicly that he wants the 48-year-old to stay on in the Millers hot-seat.

But Warne says he needs a period of contemplation following the club's last-day relegation from the Championship ahead of committing himself to the 2021/22 campaign.

The boss gave everything to Rotherham's fight against the odds to remain in the second tier and was devastated at the City of Cardiff Stadium yesterday after his side had come within six minutes of staying up.

"It's a hard question to answer," he said when asked if he was ready for a summer rebuild and trying to win a third successive promotion back to the second tier.

"I'm emotionally beaten. I want to be the manager who tries to recruit a new team, I do. I just want to go away, lick my wounds and shut my front door for a few days.

"I'm not saying I want to walk into unemployment or anything. I just don't know what more we can give."

Several players are coming to the end of their contracts, five loanees have returned to their parent clubs, star performers like Matt Crooks could be sold and fringe men may move on, leaving Rotherham with a big recruitment job on their hands.

Despite operating on one of the division's lowest budgets and being hit harder than any other side by the Covid pandemic, Rotherham would have stayed up had they managed to see out the game 1-0 against Cardiff City instead of being hit by a late equaliser.

Afterwards, Warne spoke of the devotion of his staff, saying: "Rich (number two Barker) lives 200 miles from his family. He's broken in there, the same with Hammy (coach Matt Hamshaw), the same with Andy (goalkeeper coach Warrington.

"Everyone works so hard at this club. It's literally life-consuming.

"I just feel like I need a break from football. In two or three days, I'll probably have my mojo back, be flying again and trying to recruit a team.

"At the moment, I just feel I want to wallow in my sadness."

Fans on social media rallied round the suffering boss, with the vast majority calling for him to remain in charge.