Rotherham United in talks with Steve McClaren - Millers backed to land 'major coup' | OneFootball

Rotherham United have been backed to make a decision on Steve McClaren after Tony Stewart talks emerge...

Rotherham United have been relegated for the second time in three years. It means they will play League Two but they could have former England manager Steve McClaren at the club for 2026/27.

In seven of the last 12 seasons, Rotherham United have been a Championship club. Relegation from the second tier in 2023/24 saw them survive in League One for just a season before heading down to League Two for the first time since 2013.

Lee Clark was unable to arrest their slide after replacing Matt Hamshaw and the club now need direction again as they head into the fourth tier. One of the surprise moves comes in the form of McClaren, with an advisory or sporting director role above whoever will be the manager next season looking like a real possibility.

Rotherham have held talks with McClaren recently, with the 64-year-old leaving his post in charge of Jamaica last year. He has not had a role in English football since the 2018/19 season at QPR.

The Rotherham United verdict on Steve McClaren as above manager-level job talks emerge

FLW's Millers fan pundit Tom Eyre has had his say on the situation, with McClaren set for talks with Tony Stewart over a role at Rotherham ‘above the managers job’. It could potentially be a Sporting Director role.

We asked if this would be a major coup for the club if McClaren were to come in. He told FLW: "Look, Steve McClaren has never done the job before. That is obviously a big gamble to take when considering his role within the club.

"But, for me personally, this can only be described as a coup. He is someone who has vast experience dealing with coaching management at the top level. He knows what it's like to see a successful club.

"He has worked in senior advisory roles before, but they haven't really been the most successful things. So, there is obviously a bit of risk there and reputation-wise.

"But for someone of Steve McClaren's ilk, stature, reputation within the game, he is someone who can only be described as both a plus for Rotherham in regards of getting him to the club in some capacity.

"But also bringing in a Sporting Director, which is someone we've needed now in the modern game. I think it's only a step forward, if truth be told."

Steve McClaren arriving at Rotherham United would be a real surprise move

McClaren has enjoyed a long and varied career in football post-playing, marked by both notable highs and well-documented setbacks. His standout achievement came with Middlesbrough after leaving Sir Alex Ferguson at Man United, where he delivered the club’s only major trophy by winning the League Cup in 2004.

He then guided them to a UEFA Cup final. He also achieved success abroad with FC Twente, winning the Eredivisie title in 2009/10. However, his time as England national football team manager is remembered for failure to qualify for Euro 2008, which was a major low point in the history of English football.

Subsequent roles at clubs like Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United, and Derby County have been inconsistent at the very least, with some promising spells undermined by poor runs or abrupt endings. The latter certainly occurred with QPR and Jamaica in his latest roles.

Perhaps the role is minor and inconsequential, but it's also possible that modern football has left him behind, with McClaren most active between 2001 and 2019. Overall, he remains highly experienced, but his career has been defined by an inability to sustain success in the long-term.

That is the more negative angle of this situation from a Rotherham perspective, but it is certainly an intriguing one if he is willing to help in some shape or form.