Millers are heading home to new £20m stadium

The League Two club, who left their Millmoor home of 101 years in the summer of 2008 after failing to agree rent terms with ground owner Ken Booth, have been playing their football at Don Valley Stadium.

But yesterday Millers fans were given the welcome news that they can return to the town after the club acquired land at the old Guest and Chrimes Foundry site on Don Street.

The stadium and a new training facility nearby will cost between 20m to 25m and will be funded by the directors and through grants.

The stadium will initially hold 12,000 people but a further 4,000 seats could be added to the capacity should the Millers progress through the divisions.

Work is set to commence within the next few months – subject to planning permission – with a view to completion ahead of the 2012-13 season to comply with the deadline imposed by the Football League which tied Rotherham to a return to their home town within four years of their departure.

Chairman Tony Stewart has been holding discussions for nearly two years on taking the club back to the town and last night confirmed a deal had been struck at a meeting with Rotherham council leader Roger Stone and the council planning department.

"It's been a lot of hard work from all sides to bring this to a conclusion," said Stewart.

"We are all very excited after 18 months of negotiations and we have now got what we feel is the best deal for Rotherham United.

"The stadium is in the town centre and offers easy access for all methods of transport. People can also walk to it from the town centre.

"It will feature many community benefits and the commercial side will generate income to be invested into the club as it moves towards its target of Championship football.

"I am confident that the money for the building of the stadium can be secured."