Everton friends are reunited at Rotherham United as Barnsley join race for Tom Bradshaw

New Rotherham United manager Alan Stubbs has begun rebuilding on the pitch and in the dugout. (Picture: Chris Etchells)

Francis Jeffers, Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell, Michael Ball, Tony Hibbert and Victor Anichebe all benefited from working with the 53-year-old on Merseyside, as did a certain Wayne Rooney.

Now Holden has linked up with Millers manager Alan Stubbs in South Yorkshire, with his former Goodison colleague showing no hesitation in contacting him and offering him the chance to renew working acquaintances, having working together at Hibernian.

Stubbs said: “When you look at the number of quality youngsters he helped to bring through at Everton, it’s a really impressive roll call.

“Andy had been my coach late in my playing career at Everton. and when I went into the coaching side he really looked after me.

“I was working with the under-21s and he gave me the freedom to coach. He was great as a boss. We have a long history together. It is a close relationship.

“He has great knowledge and experience and he’s someone to bounce things off.”

Meanwhile, Walsall manager Jon Whitney has told a number of clubs chasing in-demand striker Tom Bradshaw to significantly increase their bids for the Saddlers frontman or forget about signing him.

The Millers and South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley are among several clubs interested, but the Reds having seen a bid of around £350,000 rejected recently. Nottingham Forest and Reading are also monitoring developments.

Whitney said: “There is going to be interest but Tom has got a market value. He is a striker that scores one in two.

“You cannot just let him go. Some of the offers are just people fishing. If they are serious they need to come up with a serious offer because Tom is a Walsall player.”