We have not achieved anything yet says Moore

ROTHERHAM United manager Ronnie Moore, who will lead a club out at Wembley for the first time this weekend, says getting there has been the toughest ride of his life.

The Millers play Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow in the League Two play-off final with over 15,000 supporters – nearly four times the club's average home gate – travelling south for the promotion decider.

Although it will not be the club's first appearance at the national stadium, having won the Auto Windscreens Shield there in 1996, it will be a first for Moore, who is now in his second spell as manager.

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The 57-year-old is already a legend in the eyes of Millers supporters after winning consecutive promotions and securing Championship survival during his original eight-year reign.

Moore's five previous visits have been as a player or assistant manager with former club Tranmere Rovers.

"I have waited a heck of a long time for this," Moore said. "But we haven't really achieved anything yet, we still have to achieve the ultimate aim which is winning promotion. It is going to be a great day out for everyone connected to this club but we have to stay fully focused on the job at hand."

Chairman Tony Stewart has vowed that Moore will remain in charge of the club next season regardless of tomorrow's result.

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Yet Moore feared the sack just eight games ago and was far from confident about getting his old job back last September.

"Some people say you should never go back but that never bothered me because I always felt it could never change or tarnish what I did first time around," he reflected.

"There have still been times when I have been getting stick from the fans. Some were shouting 'Ronnie Out' after a defeat at Morecambe. I had a chat with the players afterwards and was as honest as I could be.

"I said 'If you do not want me as a manager, you will give a performance like the one you've just given'. I told them, 'who knows, there could be somebody else in charge on Monday?' "

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That day proved a turning point. The Millers have kept six clean sheets in the subsequent seven games and lost only once, on the final day of the season at Hereford when play-off qualification had already been secured.

Dagenham, in the Conference two seasons ago, have sold around 12,000 Wembley tickets.