Last words from Lee Clark on the 'urgency' needed at Rotherham United
DEPARTING manager Lee Clark has spoken of the pressing need for relegated Rotherham United to get their house in order as they prepare for life in a lower division.
The Geordie, who has just been confirmed as Hartlepool United's new boss, had been keen to remain at AESSEAL New York Stadium to lead a revival following the drop to League Two and had been given every indication that he would be staying.
The Millers have chosen to look elsewhere, but Clark developed a deep affinity for the club and the supporters during his nine-match spell and hopes that the good times return to S60.
Rotherham are courting former England boss Steve McClaren who is close to finalising an ‘upstairs’ position with the a remit to appoint someone to run team affairs.
Clark said: “I think is imperative for the club that there's closure on everything in terms of, are they bringing in a head of football? If they are, then they need to bring in a head coach very quickly after that.
“The work that needs to be done has to be done very, very urgently. The club can be successful, but there's a great deal to do. There isn't a long time before the players return on June 29 (for pre-season training). I hope they can get it right.”
The 53-year-old is entitled to feel harshly treated by the Millers after spending much of his short-term reign preparing for the future before being informed that his services were no longer required.
“I was working hard with the recruitment team, I was working hard on the details of the retained list,” the 53-year-old said. “And we'd been out and about. We'd been doing a lot of scouting of players, finding out about their characters and speaking with them and clubs and agents.
“I spoke a lot with Andy Woodman at (champions) Bromley on what he'd done to get them out of League Two.
“A lot of planning had gone into pre-season. Everything was going into place, but I couldn't, obviously, press the ‘go’ button on everything because I wasn't officially the manager. That was the frustrating thing.”
Clark, who spent four years out of management before his New York appointment in March, wasn't scared to publicly call out players and his forthright conduct earned him the respect of Rotherham fans.
He will be adopting the same manner in the hot-seat at National League Hartlepool.
“During my time away from the game I went back to the roots of being a fan again,” the Newcastle United supporter said. “I just thought that if I ever got back in, I would just be as honest and open as I could be.
“There are obviously certain things that you've got to keep confidential, but, you know, the fans aren't silly - they see what they see. And also, they pay great money. It's not cheap to go to a football match now and they deserve to be given honesty and explanations about why things aren't going right.
“It makes people accountable as well. Players can't hide, knowing that if things aren't going right it's not going to get out there. It is going to get out there. That will be my approach going forward.”
Clark has mentioned several times previously how much the support of Rotherham's followers has meant to him, and offered a final salute before getting down to business with Pools.
“I didn't want to leave without saying a big ‘thank you’ to everybody,” he said. “I'd looked from afar at the club's results and success they'd had. I'll be looking even more closely now that I've spent time there.
“I'll be hoping and praying that the club can get it right this summer with the rebuild they need and that they can get back to where they and the fans should be, which is the Championship.”