Steve McClaren and his Rotherham United contract
HEAD of football Steve McClaren has joined Rotherham United on a deal that has no fixed length.
The former England boss is a week into his rebuilding mission after accepting the newly-created role at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
He has signed a ‘staff’ contract that doesn't have a specific end date and has been given control of footballing affairs at the club by chairman Tony Stewart.
“It's kind of ongoing,” McClaren said. “It's kind of with a clause that we just keep going. I'm happy with that, Tony's happy with that.”
Speaking at his unveiling press conference with Stewart sitting next to him, he turned to the chairman and joked: “It's for as long as you can stand me and probably I can stand you.”
McClaren has set himself the task of leading the Millers straight back to League One following their relegation to the fourth tier that was confirmed in April.
The job appealed to the 65-year-old for several reasons and led to him rejecting the chance to work abroad again after spells in Holland and Jamaica earlier in his career.
He has been friends with Stewart for a decade and was seeking a new challenge after ankle surgery meant he would no longer be able to coach on a daily basis.
Also, the appointment suits him geographically as he lives near his home city of York, less than an hour's drive from Rotherham's Roundwood training ground.
“I'm 45 minutes away, I'm only up the road,” he said. “That was another attraction. I've had offers from countries around the world. I wanted to be local. It's in Yorkshire, which is great.”
McClaren will be involved in signings and is already working closely with recruitment chief Rob Scott.
He has a busy summer ahead of him after the departures of so many-out-of-contract players and loanees following the drop into League Two.