Steve McClaren eyes figure with Man United connections as Rotherham manager hunt takes new twist | OneFootball

A huge update has emerged in Rotherham United's search for a new permanent manager ahead of the 2026/27 campaign

Rotherham United are plugging away behind the scenes to ensure that the club's return to League Two for the first time in 13 years is a swift one after suffering relegation from the third-tier - and a new managerial appointment now beckons in a significant development coming out of the ASSEAL New York Stadium.

The Millers have made off-field changes following relegation from League One, in which they finished some 11 points behind 20th-placed Leyton Orient in what was a dismal campaign for the South Yorkshire outfit.

Despite competing in the Championship just two years ago, Rotherham are now preparing for life in League Two more than a decade on from their last stint at this level, which saw the outfit clinch automatic promotion alongside Gillingham and Port Vale in the 2012/13 campaign.

Returning to League Two has prompted a shake-up, though, and that saw former Middlesbrough and England boss Steve McClaren appointed as United's new head of football in the wake of relegation to kick-start a rebuilding process for the club.

Rotherham have been on the search for a new permanent managerial appointment following Lee Clark's departure at the end of the previous campaign, and while they have been busy scouring for successors with plays for both Ian Burnchnall and Mat Sadler falling through, a major breakthrough in the Millers' hunt has now emerged.

Steve McClaren closing in on Alex Bruce appointment at Rotherham United

Rotherham's protracted manager pursuit is now poised to meet its conclusion as a new boss edges closer to sealing his appointment in this corner of Yorkshire ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

The manager in question is Alex Bruce, whose interest to Rotherham's key decision-makers was first reported on Thursday morning by Rob Staton of BBC Sheffield before further emerging developments have indicated how close the appointment really is.

Pete O'Rourke has subsequently revealed that Bruce is in "advanced" talks to succeed the aforementioned Clark at the ASSEAL New York Stadium, which is set to see the 41-year-old arrive as the Millers' fifth hire in just over two years.

Should the appointment be sealed, it will also represent Bruce's first senior role in an EFL dugout, having taken charge of then-seventh-tier outfit Macclesfield in October 2023 before leaving his post less than four months later to take the role of assistant coach just up the road with Salford City.

Bruce has freshly departed from the Peninsula Stadium as a result of the Ammies' managerial change after losing to Notts County in the League Two play-off final, opting to relieve Karl Robinson of his duties to seal the left-field appointment of Peter Cklamovski.

The ex-defender's coaching career began when he accompanied his father, Steve Bruce, at West Bromwich Albion in 2022. An eight-month spell on the coaching staff at the Hawthorns followed before the Baggies parted company with the veteran some eight months later.

Interestingly, Bruce is set to bring yet another Manchester United connection to Rotherham, with McClaren himself having previously spent two years serving as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford upon the turn of the millenium.

Indeed, Bruce was in the Red Devils' youth ranks at the time, but departed for Blackburn Rovers in 2001. A defender just like his father, Bruce made more than 200 EFL appearances for the likes of Ipswich Town, Leeds United and Hull City before deciding to hang up his boots in 2020.

Rotherham United fans react to big Alex Bruce news

The news of Bruce's impending appointment has divided opinion among an increasingly-disgruntled Millers fanbase, who have waited an extended period of time to see a new boss in situ and have perhaps been left underwhelmed by the ex-Albion man's lack of managerial experience.

However, the general sentiment is that it's somewhat of a damning indictment of the club's perceived declining pulling power. This one fan laid claim to how much McClaren's role encompasses - and how much is actually left down to the manager, believing that Bruce may actually be the best level of candidate available to the Millers right now.

Criticism towards McClaren was echoed by another supporter, who bemoaned the extensive wait for a manager with no tangible experience to speak of at this level and took aim at under-fire owner Tony Stewart.

This fan, meanwhile, clearly wants to get behind Bruce, but has argued that his impending arrival is simply a telling reminder of Rotherham's recent demise.

It's an undeniable risk for Rotherham, and that was made clear by another punter.

That fan, though, is trying to look on the positive side, and cited the experience of both McClaren and Steve Agnew - the latter of whom could arrive as part of Bruce's coaching team.