EFL pundit Don Goodman believes Rotherham can stay up this season, but only if they get their coach appointment done quickly and done properly.
The Millers are currently second from bottom in the Championship table, four points adrift of safety, having played 18 matches. They parted company with Matt Taylor last month and were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Hull City last night in a one-sided affair.
A long relegation battle looms; without a head coach, that job gets much more difficult. However, former Sunderland striker and Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes they can pull off survival despite their ongoing circumstances.
The Millers are one of the smallest clubs in the Championship in terms of income and revenue, and whilst that is a hindrance, Goodman, speaking to OLBG, believes the Millers have a chance to stay in the second tier.
“Rotherham will always struggle in the Championship,” he said. “I said people will always expect Norwich to be at the top, and they’ll expect the Millers to be at the bottom. You’ve got one of, if not the, lowest budget in the league. Rotherham are expected to be at the top of League One, but they just find that step to be a bridge too far. It’s not Matt Taylor’s fault; it’s just the way the club is.
“Until they have a financial injection, it’ll always be that way. Tony Stewart runs the club brilliantly, and he’s rightfully never going to jeopardise the future of the club. He’s trying to develop it slowly so that it can become an established Championship club, but it’s tough when you’re up against 19 teams out of 24 who have played in the Premier League. There are some massive clubs there.
“I feel for them, but it’s always going to be that way. Their results haven’t been good enough, and I’m not surprised that Matt was relieved of his duties”
When it comes to finding a saviour, Goodman doesn’t have the answers, but if the club finds the right man, he says survival is achievable, even if it will be a struggle.
“I have no idea where Rotherham go. It’s a job for a young up-and-comer unless you persuade Neil (Warnock). Forget about February; they need to get him now. Other than that, it’s a job for a young coach. They won’t get an established Championship coach.
“They can try and nick someone who has done well or is doing well in League One or Two, like Leam Richardson. Someone who would be a sensible appointment, but whoever goes in has one heck of a job. It’s not impossible as they did last year. It was remarkable for them to get 50 points and finish 19th. They can do it, but it’s always going to be a real struggle.”
The key will not just be the new head coach but another aspect that was perhaps exposed in the cruellest possible way on Humberside last night, believes Goodman.
“Rotherham really have to sort out their away form. You can’t survive off your home games if you’re Rotherham in the Championship.”
The Millers are away again this weekend against out-of-form Birmingham City before finally getting back to the New York Stadium against Swansea on December 9th.
Writer’s View
Goodman’s comments are absolutely spot on. Firstly, the Millers did well to stay up last season after yo-yoing between League One and the Championship under Paul Warne. A relegation battle loomed under Matt Taylor, but with respect, it would be the same even if Pep Guardiola walked through the door.
Rotherham are one of those clubs that can’t quite find their level – too good for the third tier, not good enough for the second. They’re the finest example of how parachute payments skew the balance of the football structure, as they’ll never be able to compete financially with clubs dropping out of the top flight with millions being paid to them over the following seasons.
Whoever they get in won’t change that, and whilst a brave battle against relegation is possible, there’s not a head coach on the planet that could make their current squad into a top six Championship side.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
