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ROTHERHAM UNITED TO QUIT MILLMOOR
ROTHERHAM UNITED are quitting the town for Sheffield after 101 years at Millmoor.
The club said "every possible effort has been made to reach a position where staying at Millmoor was viable but unfortunately we were unable to achieve this."
United's high command insists it "will now re-double our focus in working with the council to move to the new Community Stadium in as short a time as possible " - but fans know that could take years.
The Millers are going to Sheffield as a direct result of talks with the stadium landlords, the Booths, breaking down.
The club said it was "happy that we have been able to negotiate terms that allow us to play at the excellent Don Valley stadium."
That will be a significant change for Rotherham fans, who wil have to get used to a more modern stadium where the stands are some way from the pitch.
New Millers owner Tony Stewart said: "This is a momentous step for us but I am determined that every deal that this club enters in to is workable and financially viable. I have no intention of seeing this club hit the financial rocks again and I am sure our supporters would expect nothing less".
"We have done all we could to allow this club to stay at Millmoor but I am not going to wallow in this, we are going to make sure that we make our time at Don Valley as exciting as it can be and trust that our supporters will back us through this period as they always have. We will work doubly hard with the Rotherham Borough Council, and other interested parties to ensure that the new Community Stadium becomes a reality as soon as possible. In the meantime we will now press ahead with plans for the coming season which have been held up by the discussions over Millmoor."
Stewart has been funding the club recently as an official exit from administration has yet to be completed.
Stewart had hoped to negotiate a deal to reduce rent on Millmoor in a new lease agreement that would also see the Booths help to fund minor ground improvements.
With the new fixtures released on 10th June, the decision had to be made quickly.
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Millstone too much for Millers to bear: Click here to read The Star's Rotherham United reporter Les Payne's Millmoor memories
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
