Nine games, then what? Lee Clark on his Rotherham United future

The 53-year-old knows that a longer-term contract could be put on the table if he succeeds in his mission during his nine-match spell in charge until the close of this campaign.

But all his thoughts, for now, are directed only towards gaining the points needed to lift the Millers from 22nd spot out of the drop zone.

“The agreement is until the end of the season,” he said. “I think that, if I had pursued it, there could have been the possibility for that to be extended even further. That didn't come into the discussion.”

Clark, who has previously been in the hot-seat at several other clubs but hasn't managed in the EFL for nearly a decade, answered chairman Tony Stewart's SOS call this week following the sacking of Matt Hamshaw.

The former Premier League midfielder said: “Tony and I spoke about what happens at the end of the season. We said to each other: ‘Let's reassess then.’ There's no pressure from either side. I've got the job for nine games. We totally agreed on that.”

Rotherham, who haven't been in League Two since a 2012/13 promotion sparked a golden decade at AESSEAL New York Stadium, head to leaders Lincoln City six points adrift of safety for Clark's first fixture at the helm.

“It's imperative that the club stays up,” he said at his unveiling press conference yesterday. “It's a tough challenge, of course, but we certainly can do it. There are 27 points to play for, we're aiming for all 27.

“People might think that's a crazy statement coming off the back of what's happened, but nobody's interested anymore in what's happened. It's about what happens from today to the final kick on May 2.

“It's not for me to comment on what's gone before. All I know is, whenever I've been in conversation with the chairman, his heart is for Rotherham United along with the rest of the directors. They want to see this club be successful and I want to try to help start the process of that again. That means staying in League One and then looking at things in the summer.”

The Geordie took charge of training for the first time yesterday and has inherited an injury crisis, with the casualty count running into double figures.

He is undaunted by that situation and can't wait to take on Lincoln who haven't lost in third-tier combat since November 22.

“What a way to start,” he said. “We've got the in-form team in the division. It's 21 league games unbeaten for them and, you know, they're deservedly top the table. But football's full of surprises and I'm confident.

“The meeting I've had with the players and the short session we had with the players who could train - some of them were still doing recovery from Tuesday night's game at Peterborough United - have left a positive impression on me. So, I'm looking forward to it.

“This is a nine-game season now. It's 44 days, laser focus. That's what I said to the players when I met them for the first time. What's gone has gone. We can't be affected by that anymore.”

Clark, who was interviewed by the Millers in the spring of 2012 before Steve Evans was appointed, had been out of management for four years following short spells abroad in Sudan and Oman.

He says he has filled his time supporting his boyhood club, Newcastle United, helping the development of son Bobby who plays for Derby County and visiting numerous clubs to speak with bosses and coaches.

“I was getting a lot of enjoyment by what I was doing,” he said. “However, this opportunity was too good to turn down. I looked at the group and what could be done I believe we can get the job done. Is it going to be easy? Absolutely not. But I certainly wouldn't be sitting here today if I didn't think we had a good chance of staying in this division.

“I've admired this club from afar. I've wanted to be the manager here over a period of time.”