Positive vibe orchestrated by Paul Warne welcomed by Millers' squad

The Millers may be enduring a torrid campaign destined to end in Championship relegation shortly, but Warne has earned full dressing-room respect in difficult circumstances, according to Frecklington.

On Warne staying on after the end of the season, when his current interim role ends, Frecklington said: “Personally, I would be delighted with it. I am really happy to have him in charge.

“He would get my vote 100 per cent. He knows his football and has been in the game a long time.

“I think that sometimes he pulls himself down a little bit. He’s a better coach than he sometimes makes himself out to be. I think as an all-round manager he is everything you would want.

“It is the most positive in the dressing room since I have been here, maybe on a par with Neil Warnock at the end of last season.

“But we had the results then to kind of bring that positivity.

“Even though we are losing, the lads are remaining upbeat and positive.”

Meanwhile, Warne is backing loan winger Alex Bray to be a success, after apologising to him for his lack of first-team opportunities so far.

The 21-year-old, signed from Swansea City in January for the rest of the season, made just his second appearance in Millers colours from the bench in Tuesday night’s 2-0 home loss to promotion-chasing Brighton.

Warne said: “In the team meeting (before Brighton), in front of all the lads, I apologised to him.

“I said there was a few in there who had the right to knock on my door and ask why they weren’t playing. He was one and Joe Mattock was.

“I am hoping to get him on the pitch in the next one or two games. I have got to. I owe him that.”

“I pulled him the other day and said I would like him to stay at the club longer and get his chance here.

“Physically, he needs a pre-season with a men’s team and then, I think, you will see the best of him. He has got a real chance.”