Decision expected today over Millers’ challenge to points deduction

ROTHERHAM UNITED are likely to reveal today whether they plan to lodge an appeal after being docked three points for fielding an ineligible player late last week.
Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart. Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeRotherham United chairman Tony Stewart. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart. Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The three-point penalty ensured that the Millers went into the final week of the season needing a victory to confirm their Championship status and while that was joyously achieved against Reading on Tuesday, a sense of injustice still prevails at the Football League deduction.

Rotherham, who hired a leading QC Jim Sturman to represent them at a football disciplinary commission, have until tomorrow to decide whether to appeal against the Football League verdict which also saw them fined £30,000 for fielding loanee Farrend Rawson in the Easter Monday win over Brighton.

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Chairman Tony Stewart held a meeting with Sturman yesterday lunch-time with the Millers board to discuss the recommendations.

Stewart told The Yorkshire Post: “I still think that it is unjust in the way that the rules have taken the points away.

“I feel it is an unfair rule and a rule that is selective.

“We had three points deducted at a time in the season when you need that like a hole in the head.”

Meanwhile, Stewart insists that manager Steve Evans has a job to do at the club and says the pair will now start planning for the future after the Millers realised their safety mission.

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Rumours continue that persist that Evans could still become a target for League One side Peterborough United, the club near to where he lives, with Posh expected to appoint a new manager shortly after the season ends on Sunday.

Speaking after safety was secured on Tuesday night, Evans spoke about having a ‘big future with Tony Stewart’ with the 52-year-old revealing his gratitude for the unstinting support of his chairman during some low points during the current campaign which has resembled a rollercoaster on occasions.,

Confident that the pair’s partnership will continue to flourish, Stewart, who appointed Evans in April 2012, said: “Apart from the fact that Steve is a personal friend, he is also a business partner and as a manager he has a job to do.

“It’s three years on now and he must the longest-serving league manager in the Championship and I am proud of that and we have grown together.

“Now we think about moving forward and planning for the future and we both look forward to and cherish another season in the Championship.”