Moore’s second spell as Rotherham United manager is over - Andy Liddell takes caretaker charge

The Yorkshire Post understands that Moore held talks on his future with chairman Tony Stewart yesterday and a parting of the ways has been confirmed.

The Millers are currently sixth in the League Two table but have gone five games without a win.

A club statement, realeased on Tuesday afternoon, read: “Rotherham United have parted company with manager Ronnie Moore and assistant manager Jimmy Mullen by mutual consent.

“The club would like to place on record our thanks to Ronnie and Jimmy for their whole hearted contribution to Rotherham United over a number of years in both playing and coaching capacities.

“Both will always be warmly received by Rotherham United and we wish them well for the future.

“Andy Liddell will be caretaker manger, assisted by Paul Warne and Andy Dibble, until the end of the season.”

Significantly, they suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat at local rivals Chesterfield on Friday night, a game which was televised live on Sky TV.

Stewart, who appointed Moore after the departure of Mark Robins to Barnsley early last season, reportedly walked out of the stadium during Friday’s game.

Moore, 58, had returned to his ‘spiritual home’ in Rotherham for a second spell as manager after periods in charge at Oldham Athletic and Tranmere Rovers.

It had been four years since his departure and the club, on his return, was in totally different shape, playing at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield ahead of a proposed return to a new 15,000 capacity stadium in summer 2012.

Ambitious chairman Stewart set a target of automatic promotion but the Millers finished fifth in the table last season and lost to Dagenham & Redbridge in the League Two promotion play-off final.

Despite that setback, Stewart kept faith with Moore last summer, invested in more new players, and retained the services of striker Adam Le Fondre, who was wanted by several clubs higher up the league.

Prior to start of this month, the Millers still had a hold on a top-three spot but Friday night’s heavy defeat at Chesterfield may have proved to be the final straw as far as Moore’s tenure goes.

The Millers have picked up only three points from the last 15 available and now, with only nine games to play, there is a growing possibility that the club could miss out on play-off qualification.

Defeats in the FA Cup to Blue Square Premier side York City and in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy to Huddersfield Town have also damaged the club’s ambitions this season.

Moore began his relationship with the Millers as a player over three decades ago when his goals helped the club win promotion to the then Second Division.

He returned for his first spell as manager in 1997, winning back-to-back promotions and keeping the club in the Championship for four seasons before being sacked in 2005.

Those achievements, on a shoestring budget, will always guarantee the 58-year-old a place in Millers folklore – irrespective of whether he was able to repeat the success second time around.

If, as expected, Moore does part company with the club, Stewart will need to move quickly ahead of a Friday night trip to Lincoln City.

A number of out-of-work managers will view the post as one of the most exciting in the lower leagues due to a new stadium development on the horizon and the ambitions of chairman Stewart.

Former Hibernian manager John Hughes, former Leeds United and Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell, and former Barnsley boss Danny Wilson are among those actively seeking fresh employment.

Others including Dagenham’s John Still and Accrington’s John Coleman have been linked recently with vacancies.