11:23:00
Neil Warnock "shook hands" on deal with Rotherham before U-turn
Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart revealed he shook hands with
Neil Warnock on a deal for him to stay as manager of the club.
The Millers were desperate for the 67-year-old to remain in
position for one more season after he masterminded the great escape from Sky
Bet Championship relegation, turning a six-point gap to safety into a
nine-point cushion.
Warnock was always drawn by the idea of achieveing a
record-breaking eighth promotion, but looked set to turn his back on that dream
and stay with the Millers in his final year of management.
After positive talks last week a deal was agreed before
Warnock had a change of heart over the weekend, with the club announcing his
decision to move on on Wednesday.
Stewart, a straight-talking man, holds no grudges, though,
given the job Warnock did last season in keeping his club up.
"We
put a package together, he accepted it and we shook hands on Friday. It wavered
a bit this week and I said we need to make a decision," Stewart said.
"I'm
fine with it. At the end of the day we got Neil for 16 games and both he and
his staff did a tremendous job."
Stewart now turns his attention to finding an third manager in eight months, admitting that some "big names" have applied for the job.
Former Miller Gary Bowyer is thought to be a contender along with former Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray.