ROTHERHAM United have suffered a fresh blow in their bid to appoint a new head coach with their move to bring in Mat Sadler now over.

Sadler, who spent a brief spell as a player at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2014-15, had been widely tipped to take over and lead preparations for the club’s first League Two season in 13 years.

But after extensive discussions, the switch will now not be happening.

Rotherham have been without a manager/head coach for almost a month and a half following Lee Clark's exit at the end of last season.

Mat Sadler had been widely expected to take over at Rotherham United.

placeholder image — Mat Sadler had been widely expected to take over at Rotherham United.

The Sadler development leaves the club back to square one in their quest to bring in a sixth appointment since the departure of club legend Paul Warne in September 2022.

Former Leeds United and Bradford City academy boss Ian Burchnall - expected to join Michael Skubala at Bristol City - had been a main target for Millers' head of football Steve McClaren.

But after that move fell through, the Millers turned their attentions to Sadler – and must now look elsewhere.

The 41-year-old left Walsall in March after a run of one League Two win in 11 matches caused the Midlanders to drop outside the top seven. In early December, they had been four points clear at the summit.

Sadler was relieved of his duties at Walsall in March.

Their demise mirrored events in the second half of the 2024-25 season when Walsall fell off the rails after a magnificent first half of the campaign.

This saw them race into a 12-point lead at the top following a club-record nine consecutive wins, only for their form to collapse as a 13-game winless run left them scrambling to finish fourth.

All told, Sadler spent just under three years in charge at the Bescot Stadium.

Birmingham-born Sadler was also linked with the vacant post at Northampton Town - another team recently relegated from the third tier - earlier in the close season.