Rotherham United have dismissed manager Steve Evans following a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to relegation battlers Crawley Town, marking another low in what has been a nightmare League One campaign.
Evans, who had previously enjoyed a successful stint with the Millers, leaves the club after a second spell which unravelled in front of a furious crowd at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Supporters chanted for his removal, booed the team, and began heading for the exits with half an hour still to play.
CLUB STATEMENT | Steve Evans #rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud https://t.co/IzhfWwBdkB
— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) March 30, 2025
Rotherham, relegated from the Championship last season, now find themselves stuck in mid-table mediocrity with fans and board alike losing patience.
The club’s official statement read:
“Rotherham United can confirm that, following a meeting between the Chairman and Manager this morning, the club have parted company with First Team Manager Steve Evans together with Paul Raynor, Gary Mills and Ian Pledger, with immediate effect.
“Steve was re-appointed in April last year, taking charge of 50 games in all competitions during his most recent tenure.
“Everyone at Rotherham United would like to thank Steve, Paul and their coaching team for all their efforts and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
Boos, banners and broken belief
Chairman Tony Stewart had reportedly backed Evans in the days leading up to the match, but Saturday’s performance appeared to seal the manager’s fate.
The match saw Brighton loanee Kamari Doyle score twice for Crawley, with Gavan Holohan and Panutche Camara adding late goals to complete a rout that triggered open revolt among the home support. “We want Evans out” echoed around the ground, while some supporters turned their anger towards the players with chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt”.
Evans appeared subdued in the post-match press conference, acknowledging the scale of the disaster and the fans’ discontent.
“The fans have watched an abject performance,” Evans said. “The fans don’t want to hear apologies – they want the performance to be right… Maybe my credit will run out, I don’t know.”
The defeat was Rotherham’s heaviest of the season and underlined a run of form that had already left many questioning the manager’s tactics and the players’ commitment. Despite claiming the backing of the board earlier in the week, Evans was removed from his post less than 24 hours after full-time.
He also admitted his players had carried a “heavy weight on their shoulders” all season, describing their form as unrecognisable from the Rotherham United standard fans had come to expect in previous years.
Writer’s view
Evans’ dismissal felt inevitable after the toxic atmosphere on Saturday. While his loyalty to Rotherham can’t be questioned, this latest chapter was never going to have a happy ending. The team looked lost, the fans disconnected, and the style of football uninspiring. The next appointment will need to unify a fractured club — and fast.
