Evans turns down contract extension offer

This week's move by chairman Tony Stewart comes during a rocky spell for the team but  underlines his confidence in the man he brought from Crawley Town last spring and his desire for stability after a run of four bosses in five years.

The Millers chief is going through his trickiest period, with three successive losses leading to the strongest criticism yet from supporters.

But when he signed a three-year deal last April, it was part of a longer-term plan to take the club up to the Championship.

While the Millers are still well placed to take the first step by climbing out of League Two this season, Evans feels he wants to do more to warrant the offer, which is believed to have been for an extra two years.

He told the Advertiser: "I have every belief in what we're doing and so has the chairman, to the extent that when I met him on Monday he said that, knowing how unhappy I have been with the last couple of performances, if it settled me down he would extend my contract.

"I said 'let me earn it' and he respected that. I want to show the Rotherham United fans I am deserving of that and to be part of a long-term strategy."

The Millers take on promotion rivals Northampton Town at the New York Stadium tomorrow with Evans calling for the fans to unite behind the team.

You'll find more on that and the manager's views on other issues surrounding the club in a two-page special in this week's Advertiser.