Rotherham United sack Matt Hamshaw with a 'heavy heart' as League One club 'take action' to try and save troubled season
ROTHERHAM United have announced the departure of manager Matt Hamshaw - just under a year into his Millers' tenure.
Speculation has been rife about the 44-year-old's future in recent weeks amid a hugely difficult League One campaign for the club, when all manner of things have gone wrong.
Rotherham's season plunged to new depths on Tuesday night when Peterborough United thrashed them 5-0, with sections of the Millers' away contingent - not for the first time - turning on Hamshaw.
A club statement on Wednesday morning read: “Rotherham United can confirm that the club has parted ways with first team manager Matt Hamshaw.
"Following last night’s defeat at Peterborough United, the Board has informed Matt that the difficult decision had been reached to relieve him of his duties with immediate effect.
"It is with a heavy heart that we end our affiliation with an individual who has strong historical connections and a clear passion for Rotherham United, but with the club currently six points from safety in Sky Bet League One, it was deemed necessary to take action to give the team the best possible opportunity of preserving our divisional status in our remaining nine games this season.
"The process to appoint a new first team manager is under way and updates upon its conclusion will be communicated on themillers.co.uk at the earliest possible opportunity.
"The interim period will see Dale Tonge, Richard Wood and Andy Warrington oversee first team matters.
"The club will be making no further comment at this time.”
Second-from-bottom Rotherham slumped to their biggest defeat of the season in the Fens in pitiful fashion.
The spanking left Rotherham firmly rooted in the relegation zone. They have won just once in their past nine outings and are six points adrift of the side currently just outside of the relegation zone in Wigan Athletic.
Speaking afterwards, Hamshaw said: "Obviously, there’s things coming at me from people in the crowd and I understand it.
"The things that hurts me kind of the most is somebody shouting to me that I don’t care. All I care about is this club.
"I don’t want sympathy, I don’t want pity. I am desperate for this club to do well. That’s why I came back.
"I could have gone to different places and my coaching career could have gone in a different direction. Some people might have wished that was the case.
"But I came back here as I’m a Rotherham lad and one of the fans and it’s killing me. I was sat there and it really, really hurts. I don’t want people to think that it doesn’t.
"But I am also aware that people will be questioning my position. But that isn’t on me, that’s on the club.
"As always, hopefully I am here Saturday. If I am not here, that’s on the club. But I wish this club nothing but the best. I always will.
"I will be back in that stand as soon as I can. But some people give me a bit more stick for thinking it’s me who has put this club in this position."
Rotherham-born Hamshaw, who was first-team coach during Paul Warne's successful stint at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, became permanent manager on April 15 last year following an initial interim period.
He penned a three-year deal.
The Millers visit leaders Lincoln on Saturday.