Rotherham United: Millers name Neil Warnock as new manager

Neil Warnock, who was always the Millers’ first choice to succeed Neil Redfearn as manager, has been appointed until the end of the season.

Negotiations are believed to have been completed rapidly and the former Sheffield United boss will now lead the club’s battle for Championship survival.

The Star understands that he will take training tomorrow and will be joined at AESSEAL New York Stadium by Kevin Blackwell.

The 67-year-old will be officially unveiled at a press conference tomorrow afternoon and is expected to be in the dugout for Saturday’s home clash with Birmingham City.

Rotherham had narrowed down their search to three candidates, with ex-Sheffield Wednesday head coach Stuart Gray and one-time Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer thought to be the others under consideration.

Warnock now has 16 games in which to keep the Millers in the second tier after the club dropped back into the bottom three following last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

Chairman Tony Stewart and his board had decided they had to appoint someone with extensive experience of the Championship.

“We are looking for someone who will hit the ground running. We want someone with experience who has knowledge of the Championship,” Stewart said earlier today.

Any move for Gray would have been rebuffed by Fulham who want to keep him on their coaching staff.

Meanwhile, Stewart has described Redfearn, who was sacked on Monday after less than four months in the job, as a “real gentleman”.

“Neil came on board with enthusiasm and brought lots of ideas which we were impressed with,” he added.

“He was keen to help develop the youth system, which is something that we felt was needed, and we have seen the club make great strides in that area under him.”

Warnock, a former Millers player who will be a hugely popular choice among fans, will be without several players as he makes his Millers bow against the Blues.

Caretaker manager Nicky Eaden revealed at today’s pre-match press conference that Luciano Becchio, Lee Frecklington, Leon Best and Stephen Kelly will miss out through injury while Andrew Shinnie is ineligible against his parent club.

But utility man Greg Halford, told he had not future at Rotherham under Redfearn, will now be back in first-team contention under a new boss.

Eaden, a former Birmingham player, said: “If you get a point, it’s a plus because it keeps your tally ticking over. It keeps you in contact. A win is great but a draw is not the end of the world.”

Click here for Nicky Eaden’s thoughts on the Millers staying up