Rotherham United next manager: Ex-Walsall boss Mat Sadler 'under consideration' amid Lee Clark uncertainty
Rotherham United reportedly considering ex-Millers defender Mat Sadler for manager role amid Lee Clark uncertainty
Former Walsall boss Mat Sadler is reportedly under consideration for the Rotherham United job.
Rotherham rolled the dice in March by relieving Matt Hamshaw of his duties and installing Lee Clark as his replacement. The 53-year-old was unable to save the Millers from relegation to League Two, which was confirmed last month.
Clark was only handed a deal running until the end of the season and as the curtain came down on a dismal campaign, he did not know if he would be staying on as Rotherham boss.
Mat Sadler ‘under consideration’ for Rotherham United job
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Sadler is being considered for the post. The 41-year-old has been out of work since March, when he was axed by Walsall.
He had the club well-positioned for automatic promotion from League Two last year but the club endured a sudden loss of momentum and had to settle for the play-offs. Sadler led the club into the final at Wembley, only to see his side lose to AFC Wimbledon.
Walsall started the 2025/26 campaign promisingly before again losing form and it was Sadler who paid the price, losing his job.
A defender in his playing days, Sadler is no stranger to Rotherham having had a brief spell on the club’s books. He joined the Millers from Crawley Town in 2014, but made just one appearance and was released at the end of his maiden campaign.
He also represented the likes of Birmingham City and Shrewsbury Town during a playing career that spanned 20 years. Sadler finished at Walsall in 2022 before moving into coaching with the club and landing the head coach gig in 2023.
Lee Clark’s situation
Rotherham ended the season with a 3-2 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers and while on post-match media duties, Clark spoke candidly about the uncertainty over his position.
As reported by the Rotherham Advertiser, he said: “I thought it would have been cleared up. My contract finished after the game.
"There have been conversations - a face-to-face conversation and two over the phone. It was indicated to me that I had to start making plans as the manager.
"I've done that with decisions on the retained list, the released list, the players we have options on and whether we're going to take up those options et cetera. But, because there's not been any progress, I'm not now the manager of the club.”