HOMETOWN boy David Artell could be among the contenders for the AESSEAL New York Stadium hot-seat if Rotherham United part company with short-term manager Lee Clark in the summer.

But, in the wake of Matt Hamshaw's sacking last Wednesday, the Grimsby Town boss says there has been no contact with the club he used to represent as a centre-half.

Artell, who was brought up in a Millers-mad family, said: “I’ve spoken to only one person from Rotherham in the last week - and I don’t think my mum’s going to offer me the job.”

Clark - who kicked off his reign with a 3-0 loss at table-topping Lincoln City yesterday - has been given the role until the end of the season and has eight matches in which to engineer an against-the-odds escape from League One's drop zone.

Grimsby Town head coach and former Rotherham United player David Artell. Picture: Nick Potts / PA Wire

placeholder image — Grimsby Town head coach and former Rotherham United player David Artell. Picture: Nick Potts / PA Wire

If he is successful, he could be handed a longer contract, but relegation would probably see the Geordie head back to the North-east.

Artell, who played in the Millers' old Division Two (now League One) 2000/2001 promotion campaign under Ronnie Moore, has long been touted as a possible boss of his childhood team.

The 45-year-old is an experienced manager and led Crewe Alexandra out of League Two before moving to fourth-tier Grimsby Town in 2023. In his first full season in charge, in 2024/25, the Mariners just missed out on the play-offs and they are challenging for the top six this term.

He said: “I’ve got a job to do here, it’s as simple as that. I’ve got a job and there’s not a vacancy at Rotherham. It’s all hypothetical.

“I’m focusing on making progress, focusing on getting in the play-offs, focusing on continuing to build this club from 21st/22nd in the league when I first came in to losing out on the play-offs in the last game of the last season.”

His contract at Blundell Park runs until 2028.