The former Leeds boss was a frontrunner for the Keepmoat Stadium role for several weeks and was due to be interviewed earlier this week.
However, when Steve Evans left New York Stadium at the end of September, Redfearn's agenda changed and he made clear which part of South Yorkshire he wanted his next job to be in, appointed into the Millers hotseat last Friday.
Doncaster continued with their recruitment policy and appointed Darren Ferguson today.
Redfearn did consider the Keepmoat position, but had his head turned by the Millers.
"I knew Doncaster were interested, but to be
honest with you, this was far too much of a good option to turn down," Redfearn said.
"As soon
as I met the chairman and board it was a no-brainer. It’s got good football
people, people who understand football clubs, it’s a got a solid base, it’s a
club on an upward trend, who wouldn’t want to be part of it?"
Although willing to step into League One, the new Millers boss believes he is at his best managing in the Championship.
"If you look back at my career as a player,
the bulk of it was playing at this level, I played 500 games at this level," he said.
"So
with regards to this level I am like a London taxi driver, I know it like the
back of my hand.
"It’s my division if you like and although the facets of it
have changed, the basic principles of the division are the same."
After a week at the helm Redfearn is preparing for his first game in charge when he takes the Millers to Brentford on Saturday.
Despite seeing the side in action several times before his appointment, the former Leeds manager will give everyone a clean slate and has been impressed by the attitude in training.
"The players have been really upbeat and
positive," he said. "We have got some good players and we have to get ourselves in a place
now where we can settle down and be consistent in what we do.
Neil Redfearn addressing the local written media. #rufc pic.twitter.com/bICGuc23uw— Rotherham United (@OfficialRUFC) October 12, 2015
"I have spoken to them as a group and as
individuals and the message now is that this is a clean slate, it’s a new
start, it’s an opportunity for players to really go and show what they are
capable of.
"It will be a different way of playing, but I want to get the best
out of players.
"We have to find a way to combat the
Championship, this is a tough division we are in, we now have to become a
sustained Championship side.
"We have to be tougher, we have to be more
resolute, we have to be tougher to play against, we have to be better going
forward and that does take a little bit of time, but the idea is to get things
in place pretty quickly, to work out the strengths of the group and use those
strengths going forward.
"The boys understand the message, they know
there are these three games coming up, it’s going to be tough, they know I can
only pick 11, some are going to be disappointed and some will have to be a bit
patient.
"But I have got no favourites, they’re all
favourites so they are going to have to have that mentality where they will
have to fight for the shirt and fight to stay in and if I can enhance that will
only be better for the club."
