Love
him, loathe him or are completely indifferent to him, there's no
doubting that Steve Evans will go down as one of the most successful
managers Rotherham United have ever had.
The
Scot, who has left the Millers after three and a half years, presided
over a wonderful period of success for the club as he led them from
League Two to the Championship and he did it in style.
Of
course he was the beneficiary of the sort of backing from chairman
Tony Stewart that no other Millers manager has had the luxury of.
But
Evans still had to make use of that backing and whatever his flaws,
he had a relentless knack of preparing a team to get results when
they needed them the most.
In
his first full season in campaign, when promotion from League Two was
an absolute necessity, he turned a failing play-off challenge into a
second-placed finish when it mattered the most as his side reeled off
five successive wins, including a special 2-0 victory over Bradford
at Valley Parade.
Then
after an utterly thrilling campaign in League One, arguably the
greatest individual season in the club's history, Evans masterminded
play-off glory in the most wonderful fashion possible - a penalty
shootout win at Wembley.
During
that time he has delivered things that no other recent manager for
the club could - winning promotion out of League Two, beating both
Sheffield clubs at home for the first time in a generation, ending
countless hoodoos against other clubs and enjoying total domination
over his arch-nemesis Bradford.
The
style of football in that League One campaign produced a thrill a
minute, roller-coaster journey, which was laced with drama, action
and goals - that is why that season is remembered so fondly.
He
has been able to garner a team spirit within the camp where everybody
fought until the death, everyone was pulling in the same direction
and everybody knew exactly what was expected of them. We were just
beginning to see the beginnings of that team spirit show through in
this campaign.
And
although facing steep learning curves in the Championship – the
highest level he has ever managed at – he again did what was
necessary and got the Millers to safety last season, even though they
were deducted points.
Given
the contrast in resources between the Millers and the rest of the
division, that was no mean feat and that is an achievement he
deserves to be proud of.
And
as a result of the success he has brought the club, coupled with his
larger than life character, Evans has also helped put the Millers
back on the map.
He
has been a regular on Sky Sports over the last 12 months and he has
spoken about the Millers every time.
Of
course, with Evans comes that sideshow and that is why, after all the
success he has brought the club, there's a section of fans who have
never really warmed to him while opposition fans took pleasure in
vilifying him.
The
histrionics on the sidelines, the cover-your-eyes-and-ears press
conferences where he refused to take defeat in good grace and the
constant berating of match officials - sometimes it was hard work
having him as the club's manager.
No other manager would be able to enjoy such success and be totally revered on his exit from the club.
The 88 signings he made during his tenure represented a quick-fix, short-termist attitude and although it yielded results, it did little to enhance Evans' credentials as a man who could build a squad over a prolonged period of time.
Indeed,
in his four seasons at the club, he overhauled his squad pretty much
every summer, continuing it throughout the subsequent campaigns,
meaning that the 2012 arrival of Lee Frecklington makes him the
club's longest serving player.
There
will be inevitably stories that come out in the future about his
man-management style and his antics in the dressing room. So much has
already been said about it for it not to be an issue, while
non-playing staff within the club had regular fall-outs with him.
Yet,
for all his weaknesses, as a man-manager and coach, he got the
results that mean the Millers are preparing for games against the
likes of Burnley, Fulham, QPR and Nottingham Forest instead of
Accrington, Morecambe and Dagenham.
And
that should never be forgotten.
The
reasons behind his departure are shrouded in mystery. The timing of
it - after back-to-back wins and a corner turned – means it is
unlikely to be football-related.
Theories
of a disagreement with Stewart over budgets are surfacing and that is
enhanced by the wording of the Millers' statement, which says the two
parties want to head in different directions.
It
would be ironic if a bust-up with Stewart has brought about his
departure as Evans constantly spoke about his friendship with his
chairman and how close the pair were.
Yet,
even Evans knew that this day would come, though the timing of it has
come as a shock to everyone.
The two parties are now going off in their different directions and the
grass may well be greener for both the club and Evans.
But
one thing is sure, he has made his mark at Rotherham United and will
go down in history.
