Evans hails appointment of Black as first-team coach at Rotherham

Black, 51, has joined Evans’ backroom team after a stint at Wigan Athletic and is already playing an instrumental role in pre-season training after the players reported back for duty last week.

A former Scottish international who served Aberdeen with distinction in his playing days, Black is a vastly experienced coach who has worked with a string of high-profile clubs including Celtic, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.

Bellshill-born Black had a short but successful stint as boss of Coventry City in 2003-04, and managed Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership in 2001-02.

He has also filled in as caretaker manager on a number of occasions, including last season at former club Wigan.

On adding Black to his backroom team, Evans said: “I became aware that there was a possibility that Eric might leave Wigan and after making contact, I am delighted having met him that we managed to put something together.

“Eric is fundamentally a coach who arrives here with impeccable references given to me by the likes of Craig Brown, Steve Bruce and Gerard Houllier.

“He has a wealth of experience and knowledge as a coach from a career spanning over 20 years and he will have a major part to play at Rotherham United going forward.”