LEE CLARK has paid a heartfelt tribute to Rotherham United supporters after confirming that he will not be managing the club on a full-time basis.

Clark stepped into the breach for the final nine games of the campaign after the Millers sacked Matt Hamshaw.

The former Huddersfield Town manager was unable to prevent the club from being relegated to League Two, but earned respect among many supporters for his conduct during his time in charge.

Former Middlesbrough and England manager Steve McClaren, 64, is set to take over as the club's new director of football shortly - an appointment could be made before the weekend - and he is likely to have an key role in the decision regarding the new manager/head coach.

placeholder image — Lee Clark. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Clark, who had wanted the job on a permanent basis, has now ruled himself out, but his expressed his gratitude to fans for their support, more especially ahead of the game against Leyton Orient when he lost a close relative.

Clark, speaking to the Rotherham Advertiser, said: "The supporters were amazing to me and my family.

"Obviously, I had the situation with my mother-in-law and the fans really supported us through that. They supported me before, during and after games in what was a really difficult season for them.

"They were supporting me moving forward. They wanted me and them to be part of the rebuild together.

"Unfortunately that isn't going to be the case, so I just want to say a heartfelt thank you to the fans and the people at the club.

"It's incredible the impact the club made on me, really. It got under my skin, got right into my heart in just five or six weeks.

"The staff - every single one of them - were unbelievable with me. I never met anybody who was negative or didn't want to help me. Everyone was just fantastic."

York-born McClaren, who has been out of the game since resigning as Jamaica coach in November following their failure to secure automatic qualification to this summer's World Cup, has been meeting with Millers officials this week.

McClaren’s title is likely to be along the lines of sporting director or technical director in a revamp of the footballing side of the club.

McClaren is a long-standing friend of Millers chairman Tony Stewart.