Rotherham
boss Steve Evans was not afraid to admit he made a mistake in appointing Greg
Halford as captain.
Evans
stripped his defender of the armband just seven games into the job after a
dismal start to the campaign for the Millers, where they have lost four of
their first five Sky Bet Championship outings.
Midfielder
Lee Frecklington, the club’s longest serving player and vice captain last
season, has been handed the role.
Halford
has struggled for form and attracted criticism from fans over his suitability
for the role over the first month of the campaign.
The
decision came in the wake of a Twitter campaign launched by Rotherham fans to
try and get popular midfielder Richie Smallwood appointed skipper.
Despite
the clamour from the terraces, it is still a remarkable turnaround by Evans.
The Scot took his time in appointing the former Nottingham Forest man, waiting until an hour
before the opening game of the season to announce it.
Evans
also said at the time that experienced defender Danny Collins would assist
Halford, but he appears to have been overlooked for the job.
"With
the benefit of hindsight I have to accept I made the wrong decision with the
captaincy at the start of the season,” Evans said.
“But I
firmly believe that the changes we have made will benefit players individually
and the squad as a whole.
“I have
never been afraid to make a decision or to indeed recognise when I have got
something wrong. When I do I take action, the opposite is to be stubborn and do
nothing about it, that will never be something I am guilty of.
“We have
made staggering progress in three years and we must continue to defy the odds,
that's what Rotherham United have become in the last few years under the
guidance of our chairman Tony Stewart.”
Evans
hopes that standing Halford down will allow his defender to concentrate on his
own game – something that requires urgent attention having been leader of a
defence that has conceded 13 goals in five Championship games.
“I have
had many conversations with Greg Halford about the captaincy, and I felt that
if we freed him from the extra burden of responsibility then he would have more
time to work on his individual game, which would in turn benefit all parties,”
Evans added.
“Greg has
accepted the decision like a professional, and knows that his experience is
still a valued asset to this squad.”
The
decision came just 48 hours after Evans made another big call in deciding that
the Millers could not continue with on-loan Kelle Roos and Adam Collin as their
two main goalkeepers.
Evans cut short Roos’ season-long loan from Derby after bringing in Bournemouth stopper
Lee Camp, saying the Dutchman’s inconsistency was proving too costly.
The
decision to give Frecklington the armband was surely an easier one.
The
2013/14 player of the year is no stranger to the position, having been
the official vice captain over the last two seasons.
“Lee was
first and foremost very humbled to have been asked to lead the team, and didn’t
have to think twice before accepting,” Evans added.
“Lee knows
the club inside out; he is our longest serving player and has previous
experience of leading the team which makes him an ideal candidate for the
position.
“I am
very pleased for the lad, he has been with us through the League Two and League
One days, and I know that this is something that will be right up there with
his many achievements whilst with the club.”
