Rotherham United boss Alex Bruce on 'patience' and understanding 'supporters frustrations'
AFTER the opening half-dozen games of the League Two season, Rotherham United find themselves in lower mid-table.
For most observers, that will not necessarily be a surprise, given the major overhaul of the playing squad that has taken place since the end of June.
Alex Bruce has presided over it, alongside head of football Steve McClaren and selected others, with 15 players having been brought into the club thus far.
Forging on-pitch relationships and understandings takes time, as does managing to consistently get good results among a new group.
While the smart money was always on the Millers 'growing' into 2026-27 and getting better as the season unfolds, Bruce is conscious of getting the balance right.
'Jam tomorrow' is one thing, but supporters also expect the odd serving of 'jam today', as Bruce knows full well.
He has sampled that winning feeling just once in his first six games - a dramatic late derby victory over Chesterfield.
The Millers have yet to triumph on the road, but, conversely, they have also not been beaten in their opening three league matches at home.
Given that they lost eight times in the league at the ASSEAL New York Stadium in 2025-26 and won just once from the end of January to the end of last term in front of their own supporters, there is some worthwhile context.
Head coach Bruce said: "There needs to be a bit of patience, of course there does. (But) I'm not naive enough to sit here and say 'give me patience' because as a football manager you don't get it. It's as simple as that.
"However, I'm sure the supporters who have watched Rotherham over the last couple of years can appreciate that they know their stuff.
"I've seen quite a lot of them around the town. I've been pulled up at traffic lights.
"I get a sense of the supporters' frustrations and how it's been. So I'm sure they will naturally give me a little bit of patience because they know it's a new team.
"However, I don't just want to rely on that patience to look at it to go well (if) I'll get given time."
Meanwhile, the Millers have completed the short-term signing of former Sheffield Wednesday centre-half Dominic Iorfa.
The defender, 30, based in the area, was released by the Owls in May after six-and-a-half seasons with the club.