Steve McClaren preaches Rotherham United patience after frustrating start to summer

The hope is that the search for a new head coach is drawing to a conclusion, with McClaren saying they are "very close to that – just waiting for the nod," but he is reluctant to rush into the transfer market, and warned the season could be a couple of months old before the fruit of their work is obvious.

Former Viking, Ostersund, Notts County and Forest Green Rovers manager Ian Burchnall is expected to be the new head coach, but Huddersfield Town agreed to promoted Martin Drury on Friday of last week and were unable to get all the permissions they needed until Wednesday evening.

McClaren took a long time to be confirmed. He has officially been in the post since May 20, but spoke of working at the job for three weeks."People want to rush and people want it done quickly but I've always thought a bit of patience – take your time, get all the information," he told the club's website.

"You've got the likes of Rob Scott, Warren (Spalding, head scout) and his team, they know who the players are, they know who we want, they know who we can get, they're gathering information.

"I very rarely got players in May (when he was a manager). If I did they were probably the wrong ones because we did it too early or we over-paid.

"Generally you're looking at June when things are starting.

"Are things in progress? My God, yes. Have we got lists (of targets)? Yes. Are we contacting agents and players? Yes. Have we got players in mind? Yes.

"The key thing is meeting players, explaining what Rotherham is about and where it wants to go and why we want certain players to go on that journey.

"I will definitely recruit a head coach who aligns with that. There's no point in hiring somebody who is totally opposite to what I think."

And even once the signings come, patience will be needed.

"It's a rebuilding job totally with the squad so when will the results come?" he asked, rhetorically. "October/November?"