Lee Clark ... a man who doesn't know if he's staying or going at Rotherham United
LEE Clark has been left in limbo after receiving no firm decision from Rotherham United about his future at the club.
The short-term boss says he was led to believe that the manager’s job would be his at the end of his short-term contract that ended with today's League One last-day clash at Wycombe Wanderers.
But he claims he has since had no confirmation from chairman Tony Stewart about leading a revival mission following the Millers' relegation.
The Geordie had player meetings lined up and has had to cancel them because he is, technically, no longer in the hot-seat.
"I thought it would have been cleared up," he said in the wake of a 3-2 stoppage-time loss against the Chairboys. "My contract finished after the game.
"There have been conversations - a face-to-face conversation and two over the phone. It was indicated to me that I had to start making plans as the manager.
"I've done that with decisions on the retained list, the released list, the players we have options on and whether we're going to take up those options et cetera. But, because there's not been any progress, I'm not now the manager of the club.
"I had told the players that I was getting them into tomorrow morning and Monday morning - a 15-minute slot for each player - to talk with them over what the plans were. That can't happen because I'm not officially the manager anymore. I'm not going to be making decisions on people's futures if I might not still be around."
The 53-year-old has been at the helm for nine games and has won over many fans with his honesty and passion after agreeing to come to AESSEAL New York Stadium when relegation was already a virtual certainty.
When asked when he expected to receive a call from Rotherham, he replied: "I don't know. But what I will say is, this rebuild has to start in earnest, it has to start quickly. I'd started already, I've been speaking to clubs, I've been speaking to players, I've been speaking to agents.
"This has to happen ASAP. If it goes longer and longer and longer, you're behind the eight ball, because this rebuild is going to be huge.
"This club can be something special, but its rebuild has to be done with real intensity and real urgency to give us a chance of getting the best squad of players and also the most robust and fittest group of players."
A Millers supporter was taken ill during the contest and required medical treatment before being deemed well enough to be allowed to leave Adams Park and travel home with relatives.
"I just want to send my best wishes to the fan," Clark said. "His health is the most important thing today."