Steve McClaren questioned over 'huge' Rotherham United manager 'gamble' | OneFootball

FLW's Rotherham United fan pundit has given his reaction to the imminent appointment of Alex Bruce as the club's new head coach.

After a lengthy search, it seems Rotherham United are closing in on the appointment of a new head coach.

Rotherham are preparing for life in League Two following their relegation from League One last season, with Lee Clark failing to save the club from the drop after winning just one of his nine games in charge after replacing Matt Hamshaw in March.

Clark had initially hinted that he was set to remain in charge at the New York Stadium beyond the end of his short-term contract, but he instead took over at National League side Hartlepool United last month, leaving the Millers searching for another new boss.

Ex-England manager Steve McClaren has been leading Rotherham's managerial hunt after his appointment as Head of Football, but the South Yorkshire outfit have been turned down by a number of candidates, including Ian Burchnall and Mat Sadler.

However, almost two months on from Clark's exit, it appears the Millers are finally set to fill their vacancy, with journalist Pete O'Rourke reporting that former Salford City coach Alex Bruce is in advanced talks to become the club's new head coach.

Bruce spent over two years as Karl Robinson's assistant at the Peninsula Stadium prior to his departure earlier this month, while the 41-year-old also had a brief four-month stint as manager of then Northern Premier League side Macclesfield in the 2023-24 season.

Rotherham United fan reaction given to shock Alex Bruce developments

When asked for his reaction to the imminent appointment of Bruce, FLW's Rotherham United fan pundit Tom Eyre admitted that it is a big gamble by the Millers, and he suggested that McClaren may instead be the one making the decisions moving forward.

"It is a huge gamble, but as Paul Davis of The Advertiser has reported, he's actually our fourth choice manager," Tom told FLW.

"Burchnall, Sadler and a third unnamed manager have turned us down, so McClaren has turned his attention to Steve Bruce's son.

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"He's probably a friend, someone who has been in contact with McClaren quite regularly.

"He's not McClaren's first choice, he's not Rotherham's first choice.

"That's not to say that we aren't going to back him, if he's our manager, we will support him.

"I can only see this as a managerial decision that is on the basis that Alex Bruce will be the face and the head coach for all intents and purposes, but McClaren will be the manager.

"Everything will go through him, he will have say on players, tactics, decisions going on on the pitch as well as off the pitch.

"I personally believe that this is an appointment of someone to take the blame.

"In that regard, I think Alex Bruce is as good as anyone we'll come by.

"He's shown himself to be a good coach, so hopefully he comes in and picks up where he left off with Salford."

Steve McClaren will face immediate Rotherham United scrutiny after bold Alex Bruce call

With McClaren in place as Head of Football, it seems Rotherham have been targeting younger candidates to perform the role of head coach rather than manager, so Bruce will fit into the new structure at the club.

Having served as Robinson's assistant at Salford for the past two years, Bruce will have gained extensive knowledge of League Two, and the pair almost guided the Ammies to automatic promotion last season before being dismissed following defeat to Notts County in the play-off final.

However, Bruce was clearly some way down the Millers' list of targets, and with many supporters unconvinced by his expected appointment, McClaren will be under significant pressure if his first big decision at the New York Stadium backfires.