Liddell not wasting time as he takes charge of the Millers

ANDY LIDDELL is suddenly the envy of unemployed football managers across the country.

Just a few days ago, he was a former player who had slipped off the radar. The average football supporter, asked to cite the whereabouts of the one-time Barnsley and Wigan Athletic striker, would have struggled to come up with the correct answer.

But Liddell, 37, is now caretaker-manager of Rotherham United with nine games to show what he can do, starting tonight at Lincoln City.

Prior to Tuesday lunchtime, Liddell was employed as a fitness coach by the Millers but the shock departure of manager Ronnie Moore has opened the door to possible new horizons.

The Millers are not exactly a club in crisis.

Moore was sacked after a run of five games without a win yet a victory tonight could lift the club as high as fourth in the League Two table.

With a generous chairman and a new stadium opening next year, the job is arguably one of the most inviting in lower league football.

“I have to be honest and say I was surprised when I got the call. I didn’t see this coming,” admits Liddell.

“Experienced managers would give their right arm to do this job. It’s a massive opportunity.”

Liddell nearly turned his back on football two summers ago after suffering personal tragedy. Daughter Giorgina died just two weeks after being born with a condition that prevented her from being able to eat or drink.

“My personal circumstances are well documented,” reflects Liddell. “I don’t waste time because time is precious.

“I don’t do things in life now that I am not going to enjoy.

“In my early days, I don’t think I wanted to be a manager but as you get older you think ‘if the chance comes, I will see what it’s like.’

“The chance has come now and I’m going to see what it’s like. We have nine games to go, we have good players, and we can get promoted.

“If I don’t enjoy it, I will deal with that – but I don’t see why I can’t enjoy it.”

Liddell will be assisted by Paul Warne (who is still registered as a player), goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble and former Barnsley defender Nicky Eaden, who joined the backroom team this week.

Teamwork is going to be one of Liddell’s keywords and there will also be far less public criticism of the players.

“We are all going to do this together but I’ve got the title of caretaker-manager,” he says.

“I think that’s just so players who get fed up can come to me and ask why they are not playing and I will tell them.”

Liddell makes no reference to the style of his predecessor but Moore, who first tasted management in the 1980s, was never slow to express public disappointment in individuals.

Whether right or wrong, that may have led to a backlash and been a factor in his departure.

“What I say in the changing room, or behind closed doors, or face-to-face, I won’t tell the press,” stresses Liddell.

“I don’t believe that the dressing room sanctuary should be broken. I believe in these players and I believe they can get where we want to get to. If people ask an honest question, I give an honest answer. I don’t believe in b***s******g people because that bites you in the backside.”

Liddell is circumspect when asked about the future of Moore’s son Ian, who joined the Millers two months ago and has another 18 months remaining on his contract.

“I am not going to tell you what I say to individual players,” he says. “I don’t think it’s fair to single out players. I will speak about the team all day long and specifics of the team but what I say to players is between me and them. I don’t want to break that trust.”

However, Liddell has made it clear that the striker, who also saw his father sacked when playing under his rule at previous club Tranmere Rovers, still has a key role to play with the Millers.

“He has had this before and he is a good player,” says Liddell. “It’s not rocket science. He’s gone for three million quid in his career. You don’t go for three million quid if you are not a good player.”

Chairman Tony Stewart pulled the plug on Moore senior after a 5-0 defeat at local rivals Chesterfield last Friday.

The Millers returned to the scene of that humiliation in midweek for a behind-closed-doors friendly against the Spireites – and won 2-0.

Explaining the move, Liddell says: “They had phoned for a reserve game and it was sorted through Ronnie. We played all the players and you should have seen the commitment.

“I don’t care who we are playing – Chesterfield reserves or Real Madrid – as long as I see that commitment I am quite happy.

“As a player, I was totally committed, fit, athletic, and that’s all I expect Rotherham players to be.

“I’m not asking them to develop into a (new) system, I just want 10 outfield players running around, committed, throwing themselves at balls in the box. That’s all me and Paul, Nicky and Andy want to see.

“It might sound harsh but, if I don’t see that, players who are not playing will play.

“The players owe themselves a performance after last week. I don’t like speaking in the past but I have played in teams that have been beaten 7-0, 6-2, 5-0 and it’s very rare that you don’t get a response.”

Moore, meanwhile, issued a statement yesterday expressing ‘deep sadness’ at his departure.

“I remain very proud of my time with Rotherham, not just during this reign but also during my first spell as manager, in addition to my playing days with the club,” he said. “I now wish everyone connected with the club all the best for the future and for their quest for promotion this season.”

Last six games: Lincoln WDLWDL, Millers WDDLDL.

Last time: Lincoln 1 Millers 2; February 13, 2010; League Two.

Referee: MP Russell (Hertfordshire).