Tears as Andy Warrington joins Rotherham United and Mike Pollitt leaves

Rotherham United old boy Andy Warrington has just returned to the club as goalkeeping coach and it all got a bit too much for the man who made 233 appearances between the sticks for the Millers from 2007 to 2013.

Warne has been famously known to break down now and again during his three years in the AESSEAL New York Stadium hot-seat but this time it was Rotherham's new appointment who was dabbing his eyes.

Warne revealed: "When I asked him if he wanted to do it, I I told him: 'Look, just think about it for two minutes and then get back to me.'

"He phoned me back within two minutes and said: 'I don't know why I am thinking about it. Of course I want to do it. It's my dream job. His mum was emotional. And he was a bit 'cry-y' on the phone.”

Warrington - known to all in the Millers camp as 'Woggy' - replaces Mike Pollitt who has moved to Bolton Wanderers.

Pollitt left with a heavy heart but the chance to work for his home-town club and with his two closest friends in Trotters boss and number two Keith Hill and David Flitcroft proved too good to turn down.

"Polly's obviously got his dream job," Warne said. "It was a disgusting phone call we had. He didn't want to do it. It upset me. I was devastated, I won't lie. I love all my staff so if anyone leaves it hurts.

"Obviously, I've been really close to Polly. He was my roomy for six years when we were Millers players together.

Mike Pollitt and Paul Warne

"I completely understand it. He used to leave his home at half-five or six in the morning, drive for nearly two hours on his own to get here and then drive back. It's a long winter when you're doing that.

"For Bolton to come in for him is brilliant for him. He grew up with Flitty and Hilly so he knows them really well. They’ve been best friends for years. He's a Bolton fan, he lives in Bolton. Why wouldn't he want to go there?

Warrington, who had held a similar role at Lincoln City, began working for Rotherham before the FA Cup second-round tie against Solihull Moors on December 2 and was in the away dugout at Damson Park for the 4-3 win on December 2.

The official announcement was delayed until today to give the Imps time to select and name their new keeper coach.

"We just had to organise things with Lincoln. They've been really good," Warne said. "They had to replace him, obviously, and it was a longer process than we wanted really.

"I'm really pleased with Woggy. He's been great with the keepers since he's been here. He is just a really good, upstanding human being. He 'gets' the club.

"He's a brilliant bloke and I've always kept in contact with him, ever since he finished playing.

"He probably brings different qualities to Polly. No-one can be as stupidly funny as Polly because he's just like a freak.

"Woggy is really good on set-pieces. He comes from a different angle, which is quite nice. It's a bit of a 'refresh' button because they've done things differently at Lincoln to how we've done them here."

Warrington worked in the Millers' community department after hanging up his gloves before becoming goalkeeper coach at Grimsby Town and then Lincoln.

Pollitt, brought to New York by Warne in 2017, said: " I've loved being with the Millers again. Bolton were the only club I'd have left them for."

Warne said: "I didn't stand in Polly's way. I didn't give it the old 'You have to give three months' notice' thing. I just tried to make it happen for him as soon as I could because I knew how much it meant to him."

The boss kept the tears at bay but will obviously miss his old chum.

"It killed me when Polly told me but, as he's my friend, I wanted what was best for him,” he said. “And going there is definitely best for him. He goes with my absolute blessing. He's been 'ledg' here.

"I genuinely believe Bolton are the only club he would have left us for. He’s been brilliant here."