Rotherham United dealt fresh manager blow | OneFootball

Rotherham United's search for a new manager goes on after Mat Sadler rejected the opportunity to manage the Millers

It's been 45 days since the 2025/26 campaign came to a close, and even longer since Rotherham United knew which division they'd be spending next season in. Yet, their search for a manager is yet to reach a conclusion, and is set to continue further.

The Millers suffered their fifth relegation in 10 seasons last term, and while the bulk of those have been from the Championship and then backed up by success in League One, this one feels the bleakest of all.

Indeed, Rotherham are set to begin life back in League Two in August for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign, following a dire year under Matt Hamshaw that Lee Clark couldn't resolve in the latter stages, leading to a 23rd-placed finish, two years after returning to the third tier from the Championship.

Moves have been made at the board level to try to put the Millers in the best place possible to pick up yet another promotion next year, with Steve McLaren being brought in as the new Head of Football close to four weeks ago.

He's been tasked with "overseeing strategic leadership and oversight," which began with the hiring of a new manager. But it looks like the Millers have hit a roadblock with yet another candidate.

Mat Sadler rejects Rotherham United's approach to become the new manager

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After Rotherham received a setback in their pursuit of Ian Burchnall as their new head coach, due to some extra demands from the former Forest Green boss that the club weren't able to guarantee, Steve McLaren had to look elsewhere.

Eight days ago, it emerged that the Millers were "on the verge of" bringing in former Walsall boss Mat Sadler to the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

But, like with Burchnall, the longer things went on without any announcement, the more pessimistic things got surrounding a breakthrough being made, and Pete O'Rourke has confirmed that things have hit an impasse, and Sadler has turned down the opportunity.

The 41-year-old's managerial capabilities have been tarnished somewhat following back-to-back collapses in the second half of seasons, following table-topping first halves, at the Bescot Stadium, more famously in the 2024/25 campaign. So he wasn't too inspiring a choice for some Millers fans.

However, it's almost getting to the case of anyone's better than no one in the dugout for the South Yorkshire side, as they close in on the start of pre-season.

Rotherham United need to make an appointment soon to ease worries ahead of the new season

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Two head coaches have now turned down the opportunity to manage Rotherham after engaging in talks with the board at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, which is a real worry ahead of the new season.

Pre-season is now only a couple of weeks away, and the identity of the new man in the dugout is still unknown, alongside anyone in what will have to be a new-look squad ahead of the season, with just 14 senior players currently under contract, per their retained list.

It's a known fact that it can often be difficult for recently relegated third-tier sides to stop the rot in League Two and avoid a relegation scrap, let alone challenge for promotion. The likes of Carlisle United and Forest Green Rovers have suffered consecutive relegations recently; Crawley Town almost did the same this past season.

If the goal at Rotherham next season is to finish in the top three, there isn't much hope right now that they can achieve it, and there won't be too many who are optimistic that they can even finish inside the top half.

It's increasingly worrying times in that part of South Yorkshire, and a new head coach has to be announced soon to quell those concerns.