Football Season Guide

There is a real sense of foreboding in this part of South Yorkshire heading into the new season. Under the ownership of Tony Stewart Rotherham United have become the ultimate yo-yo side, proving time and again to be too good for League One but not good enough for the Championship. Last season was a different story however as that narrative ended in a miserable season under manager Steve Evans. His return to the New York Stadium certainly wasn’t popular with fans that saw it as a retrograde step and that was certainly what transpired on the pitch. Their best players left following relegation from the Championship last summer and Evans failed to replace them, although he would point to a series of injuries in his defence. It wasn’t enough to save him from the sack however and former first-team coach Matt Hamshaw has been installed as his permanent successor. It is an appointment that has been questioned by fans due to his lack of experience, and is seen as a cheap option. The loss of key players adds the unease with centre-back and Player of the Season Hakeem Odoffin rejecting the offer of a new deal in favour of a move to Luton Town. Centre-back Cameron Humphreys-Grant and strikers Jonson Clarke-Harris and Mallik Wilks have also moved on to pastures new. Keeping hold of centre-back Zak Jules is certainly one positive, whilst full-backs Joe Rafferty and Reece James are both steady eddies. Otherwise the squad is made up of players who struggled for consistency or untried and untested academy graduates. Kian Spence is perhaps the standout addition this summer, having shown his potential at Barrow. Ted Cann arrives from West Bromwich Albion to give Cameron Dawson competition between the sticks. Sam Nombe will again lead the line but is clearly in need of some help with attack needing some significant strengthening.