NEW boss Lee Clark has opened up about the robust staffing resolution he made in his mission to safe Rotherham United’s League One standing.
The 53-year-old relieved quantity two Dale Tonge of his duties solely six days into his reign after taking the hot-seat on March 18 following the sacking of Matt Hamshaw.
The Geordie revealed that, with solely a handful of matches of the season remaining through which to lead the membership out of the relegation reckoning, he needed someone at his facet with whom he was already acquainted.
That led to Tonge’s departure and the arrival of Peter Leven who helped Clark pull off a survival feat again in 2016/17.
“It’s never an easy decision as a manager when you let good people go,” he stated. “I just felt that in such a short period of time I needed to get someone in who I knew really well. It was hard, and nothing against Dale’s capabilities as a coach. He certainly is a terrific fella. I wish him well.
“I know Peter very well from our time together at Kilmarnock. We’ve been in this situation before. We prevented them from getting relegated from the Scottish Premier League,
“Peter went on then to develop his own career in various roles. He was interim manager at Aberdeen on three separate occasions, and I’ve seen the development he’s made as a coach.
“The work he’s put in since he’s came here has been top drawer, alongside (coach) Richard Wood and (goalkeeper) Andy Warrington. The four of us have worked well together.”
Clark was famously flamable when he made his title in administration with Huddersfield Town between 2008 and 2012 after hanging up his boots on a Premier League enjoying profession, however admits he has mellowed over time.
“I’m a lot older and wiser now,” he stated. “In the early days there was that eagerness – and maybe I’m saying that in posh kind of way. It’s passion, and I’ve still got the passion, the fire in the belly. I still want to do well. I want to do well for this club, I want to do well for the fans.”
Eight matches stay and the Millers have to claw again a nine-point margin to escape a return to League Two for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
After a 3-0 loss at leaders Lincoln City in his first fixture in cost, he makes his dwelling bow tomorrow when Stevenage are the guests to AESSEAL New York Stadium.
“I’m excited and nervous,” he stated. “I want to do well for the club, I want to do well for the fans. Their turnout at Lincoln was magnificent. They’re going to be huge for us from now to the end of the season.
“Lots of family and friends are coming down to the game. I hope the players can deliver what I’ve seen them do over the last 10 days in training.”
Clark lives in Newcastle however is basing himself in Rotherham for the run-in, after which he and chairman Tony Stewart will maintain talks about whether or not his tenure can be prolonged.
He empathised with supporters who’ve endured a miserable marketing campaign and delivered the following message to them.
“Whatever your thoughts and frustrations are, we’ll fully accept and understand that, with the way the season’s gone. Just forget them for the next eight games.
“We need you so badly. I’ve managed against Rotherham before at New York Stadium. When you get behind the team, it’s a difficult place for a visiting side to be. We’ll try to deliver performances that you are worthy of. If we do it together, what we want to achieve will be achieved.”
