fbpx
Connect with us

English Football League

Rotherham sack Steve Evans after 4-0 defeat and name replacement until end of season

Rotherham United sack Steve Evans after a 4-0 defeat and name Matt Hamshaw as interim replacement until the end of the season.

Teenage star Kamari Doyle, on loan from Brighton, scored twice to lead Crawley to a surprising hammering against Rotherham in League One on Saturday.

Doyle’s goals, one in each half, bolstered Crawley’s slim chances of avoiding relegation. Gavan Holohan and Panutche Camara added late goals in the 84th and 87th minutes, to secure an emphatic win.

Despite Rotherham’s improved play before half time, Crawley’s clinical finishing, with Doyle hitting the top corner in the 23rd minute and the bottom corner in the 52nd, proved decisive.

The result was a significant boost for Crawley, who had earlier come close to scoring when Doyle struck the woodwork and Armando Quitirna’s shot was blocked.

The Millers sit 16th with 45 points from 38 games played, 9 points above the drop zone.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Rotherham United can confirm that, following a meeting between the Chairman and Manager this morning, the club have parted company with First Team Manager Steve Evans together with Paul Raynor, Gary Mills and Ian Pledger, with immediate effect.

Steve was re-appointed in April last year, taking charge of 50 games in all competitions during his most recent tenure.

Everyone at Rotherham United would like to thank Steve, Paul and their coaching team for all their efforts and wish them well in their future endeavours.

The club can also confirm that Matt Hamshaw, together with Andy Warrington and other staff to be confirmed will take charge of first team matters with immediate effect until the end of the season.

The club will be making no further comments at this time.

Evans said in his post-match press conference, per Advertiser: “A lot of those players have got no credit in the bank at this club. You need some credit in the bank.

“Maybe my credit will run out. I don’t know. That doesn’t lie with me, it lies with the chairman and the board.

“Everyone’s got feelings. It wasn’t a nice feeling. The fans have watched an abject performance. I just apologise.

“Fans don’t want to hear apologies, do they? They want to see the right performance. But no-one will hurt at the result and performance more than me.

“The fact is, the players haven’t played in a Rotherham United fashion for much of the season. I understand how unhappy fans will be with the performance … and how unhappy they’ll be with me because I head it up.

“Whether I’m here or not, there’ll be post-mortems from above. And so there should be. There’s no hiding place after a performance like that.”

On if he feared that a parting of the ways was imminent, he responded: “I’ve never feared getting the sack. What would hurt? My pride. I’ve had some fantastic times at this club.

“If the decision is made to remove me from the club, I’ll be back in the future as a fan.

“Do I want more time to take this car to the end of the season and then have the opportunity to put new wheels and a new engine on it? Yes, absolutely.”

Evans, who had ‘We want Evans out’ chants sung at him, told the Advertiser: “We always talk on a Sunday morning.

“He may speak to me tonight, he may not. You know how football works. I’m not going to second-guess a man who will be a friend forever whatever decision he makes.

“I’ll just go about my business. I’ll hurt tonight, I’ll hurt tomorrow, I’ll hurt for a few days. I’ll come in on Monday and get ready for a game at Northampton Town the following day.

“If that course of action is taken away from me, then I have to reflect and see what comes in the future.”

On the fans’ ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ chant: “I know that one or two, when it was sung to them at Barnsley earlier in the season (2-0 Oakwell loss in November), were still talking about how much it hurt them as professionals a week or two later.

“Standing here as a manager today, does it hurt all of them? No. The ones who don’t hurt won’t be here if I’m fortunate to stay on. It’s as simple as that.”

Just a few days before his sacking…

Here’s how fans reacted as Rotherham sack Steve Evans after a 4-0 defeat to Crawley and name a replacement until the end of the season…

@rufc_pod: It’s a real shame it didn’t work. But this is right decision

@__IrufcI__: Everyone slagging him and celebrating it ended like this give your head a wobble, club legend who’s also been massively let down by his shithouse players. Needed to go, but it’s sad how it’s ended like this.

@hicksy_rufc: Don’t like seeing anybody lose there job, but it had to happen.

@ChellAlfie: What he’s done for the club in the past should t be forgotten about however was the right call to make, farewell big Steve.

@royalrufc: It’s a shame it didn’t work out. SE will always be a bit of a miller’s legend for his 1st period in charge. Very similar to how it worked out Ronnie. Hopefully see him back at NYS one day to give him an ovation that his 1st stint warrants

@BaileyVernon02: Look, besides the fact I didn’t necessarily want him back, I wanted it to work cos he’s manager of my team. But it has been on the cards since September, and should have gone before now…

@Danny260214: Shame it’s not worked and probably had to happen but I’ll never forget the good times and what he’s done for this club, people have short memories. Always a club legend, wish him all the best.

@JRipley98: It is what it is sadly, a shame the return was not a massive comeback as we all would have thought or most of the fan base. Let’s battle on with the new current management team

@eddie_broomhead: Hamshaw and Warrington ffs.. will be announcing Warne next!

@andrew_mchale1: The only outcome to be fair. I wish it had worked out and we were flying but results speak for themselves. Go again with a rebuild in the summer with 🤞🏼 the correct appointment #utm #rufc

@srn15111961: He might not be everyone’s cup of tea but he has without doubt achieved great things at many clubs. Time to retire and enjoy time with your family… Thanks for the memories Steve..

@markrufc95: Such a shame it didn’t work, he had to go, it couldn’t carry on, but the players are absolute shithouses that should be ashamed of themselves.

@ReeceDSport: I actually feel quite sorry for him. Only two clubs he’d have left us for and they was one. On the other note you have to recognise that this is really really funny

@Finlay_Rufc5: Should have never been appointed. Stewart just did it to try & get fans back on side & it completely backfired. Time for the clown to sell up now & we might get our club back

@smith98_josh: Still a club legend no matter what, let’s not forget that. This time round didn’t work. But the first spell was magnificent, the best I’ve seen as a supporter. Hopefully, Stewart isn’t far behind either 👍🏻 #rufc

@Hannn_95x: Steve Evans is a club legend for previous times but it just wasn’t to be this time. Feel sad for SE & that it didn’t work out but, it was the right decision. Should have gone after Barnsley away in my opinion. Not sure what to expect next for the club from here tbh #rufc

@padthemiller: Gutted it never seems to go well the 2nd time around (Warney beware) We have some great memories from the big man’s 1st time here this time just wasn’t to be Good luck in the future SE and PR we move on Good luck Hammy UTM

Related Topics
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in English Football League