Rotherham United manager news: Lee Clark twist as Steve McClaren talks progress | OneFootball

All the latest news on Rotherham United's search for a new permanent manager following their relegation to League Two.

Rotherham United are continuing their search for a new permanent manager following their relegation to League Two.

After a positive first half of the season, Rotherham sat as high as 11th in the League One table in mid-November, but a nightmare winter period saw them dragged into a relegation battle.

As their relegation fears increased, the Millers parted company with manager Matt Hamshaw in March and tasked Lee Clark with keeping them in the division, with the 53-year-old returning to the EFL for the first time since leaving Bury in 2017.

However, Clark was unable to prevent Rotherham's relegation to League Two after winning just one of his nine games in charge, and it is unclear whether he will remain in charge at the New York Stadium beyond the end of his short-term contract.

As the Millers continue preparing for life back in the fourth tier, here is all the latest news on the club's manager situation.

Late Hartlepool United twist in Rotherham United, Lee Clark saga

It remains to be seen whether Rotherham are keen for Clark to stay on as manager beyond the summer, but it seems they could face a battle to retain his services.

According to journalist Pete O'Rourke, National League side Hartlepool United have made a late move to appoint Clark as their new manager, despite reports last week claiming that Lee Cattermole had agreed a deal to take over at the Prestige Group Stadium.

Pools finished ninth in the fifth tier this season, 13 points from the play-off places, and they are currently on the hunt for a new manager after parting company with Nicky Featherstone as owner Landon Smith looks to stamp his mark on the club following his December takeover.

It had appeared that Cattermole's appointment was imminent, but, in a late twist, Hartlepool have turned their attention to Clark, and if they can convince him to return to his native North East, it could have big implications for Rotherham's managerial search.

Rotherham United hold Steve McClaren talks amid New York Stadium visit

While Clark's future at Rotherham is now in doubt, one man who looks set to be arriving at the New York Stadium is Steve McClaren.

McClaren, who has had spells in charge of the likes of Middlesbrough, England, Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Newcastle United, has been out of work since resigning from his role as the Jamaica national team manager in November following their failure to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup.

However, while McClaren has had an illustrious managerial career, it seems he will not be the new man in the Millers' dugout, with talks instead taking place with the 65-year-old over what has been described as an "upstairs" role at the club.

As negotiations continue to progress, McClaren is believed to have met with vice-chairman Richard Stewart at the club's Roundwood training complex on Friday morning before holding discussions with chief operating officer Paul Douglas at the stadium, which suggests his appointment may now be close.

Lee Clark outlines stance on Rotherham United job and Steve McClaren

Prior to the links with Hartlepool emerging, Clark claimed that he had been led to believe by Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart that he would be offered the chance to remain in charge next season, while he also prepared a retained and released list and began making plans for pre-season.

With McClaren set to take up a boardroom role at the club, some questioned how Clark would feel about the possible arrival of such a high-profile figure, but he insisted he would have no problem working alongside the former England manager, who he knows from his time as coach at Newcastle United.

"I can work with anybody," Clark told the Rotherham Advertiser.

"If the chairman sees fit to lean on Steve's experience and knowledge and bring him in to try help the club, that's fine.

"I've never, ever believed I know it all and have done it all. You're always open to working with good people, so let's see."