New Rotherham United manager shortlist confirmed as timetable set out

The Millers are searching for a new manager after Warne left to join Derby last week.

Former Millers loanee Dean Holden is understood to be among the frontrunners for the job among a lengthy list of applicants.

The 43-year-old made seven appearances for Rotherham during a loan spell in 2010, just a couple of years after chairman Tony Stewart had taken over at the club.

Holden fits the profile of manager set out by the club’s hierarchy and is out of work, having recently left Stoke.

He has spent the last six seasons of his coaching career in the Championship and had a near 50 per cent win record while in charge of Bristol City.

Holden, who is the bookmakers’ favourite, is expected to be interviewed later this week having sent in his application, with the Millers deciding on a shortlist on Monday afternoon.

Chairman Stewart is not prepared to rush into the appointment, with the Millers back in action on Saturday against Wigan following the international break.

The supremo says he would prefer to wait for the right person if he has to rather than hurrying someone in before the weekend.

"There is no set time frame for an appointment," Stewart said. "It will be right when it's right.

"I think that fans, in an ideal world, would like to see a new face on Saturday. If it works that way, it works that way. If it doesn't, it doesn't.

"I always say this: we're desperate for a good deal but not desperate for any deal."

The club's second all-time appearance holder Paul Hurst is second favourite, though is currently in work at Grimsby, with Cambridge boss Mark Bonner and Exeter manager Matty Taylor also on the bookmakers' list.

There may be a new contender joining the race after Watford sacked Rob Edwards on Monday after just 10 games at the club.

Edwards guided Forest Green Rovers into League One last season and has a reputation as being an excellent young coach, also fitting the profile set out by the Millers.

The majority of the club’s players reported back to training on Monday after a four-day break, where club captain Richard Wood and senior professional Lee Peltier took training.

Warne took his entire coaching staff with him to Pride Park, where he also started work on Monday, leaving the Millers scrambling around for someone to take the team.

The duo will continue to oversee training ahead of the Wigan game on Saturday.