With Jones now appearing to be out of contention for the Millers’ managerial position, focus should shift to a former QPR, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest manager. Rotherham United seems poised to restart their search for a new manager, which has already extended over three weeks. Chairman Tony Stewart has faced challenges in replacing Matt Taylor, who was dismissed after guiding the team to only two victories in the first 16 league matches, culminating in a 5-0 defeat at Watford in November.
Several names, including Steve Evans and Gary Rowett, have been associated with the role, but Nathan Jones seemed like the leading candidate over the weekend. Jones, previously at Southampton in the Premier League for a brief period in 2023, was seen at St. Andrew’s during Rotherham’s goalless draw with Birmingham City, suggesting he was the top target. However, Football Insider reports that Jones has withdrawn from consideration, dealing a significant blow to the Championship strugglers.
Rotherham has struggled to secure Taylor’s successor, with potential candidates like John Eustace and Rowett showing reluctance to take on the challenge at the New York Stadium. One potential candidate worth considering is Mark Warburton, who has been without a managerial position since leaving Queens Park Rangers at the end of the 2021-22 season but could bring a fresh perspective to the current Millers squad.
Mark Warburton’s journey into football management was unconventional, starting as a youth coach at Watford in 2006 while also working as a Trader. His breakthrough came at Brentford, where he initially served as a coach before becoming sporting director and, eventually, manager. Warburton achieved promotion to the Championship and led the team to the playoffs in his first season at that level before moving on to Rangers. Despite gaining promotion, he was let go due to the club lagging behind rivals Celtic. His subsequent stint at Nottingham Forest was not as successful.
Warburton spent three seasons at QPR from 2019 to 2022, with the team performing relatively well under his management. While he may not be enthusiastic about taking on the challenge of Championship relegation, approaching him for the Rotherham job could be worthwhile.
Currently a first-team coach at West Ham, Warburton left after one season in search of a more senior position. Although he is waiting for the right opportunity, he could leverage his coaching expertise to bring out the best in younger players at Rotherham, such as Sam Nombe, Hakeen Odoffin, Ollie Rathbone, and Cohen Bramall. While Warburton may not immediately land a more attractive job in English football, Rotherham should consider approaching him to secure an experienced and talented Championship manager.
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