EFL club sack manager ‘with heavy heart’ in late bid to avoid relegation

Rotherham United have announced the immediate departure of manager Matt Hamshaw.

The decision was made less than 24 hours after Hamshaw oversaw a 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Peterborough United in League One action on Tuesday.

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Rotherham’s latest defeat extended their winless run to a fourth game and kept them 22nd in the 24-team league.

Rotherham United issue statement

“Rotherham United can confirm that the club has parted ways with first team manager Matt Hamshaw,” a club statement read.

“Following last night’s defeat at Peterborough United, the Board has informed Matt that the difficult decision had been reached to relieve him of his duties with immediate effect,

“It is with a heavy heart that we end our affiliation with an individual who has strong historical connections and a clear passion for Rotherham United, but with the club currently six points from safety in Sky Bet League One, it was deemed necessary to take action to give the team the best possible opportunity of preserving our divisional status in our remaining nine games this season.”

Who will oversee Rotherham United in the meantime?

Rotherham added they have commenced the process to appoint Hamshaw’s successor.

In the meantime, the trio of Dale Tonge, Richard Wood and Andy Warrington will step in on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is found.

Hamshaw’s Rotherham tenure at a glance

Hamshaw was promoted to Rotherham’s full-time manager last April after a successful four-match caretaker stint following Steve Evans’ exit.

Under the 44-year-old’s tutelage, Rotherham finished the 2024/25 League One season in 13th.

Hamshaw oversaw a solid run of form through to November that left the Miller sitting comfortably in midtable.

However, the Millers’ form from December onwards nosedived and plunged the club straight into relegation danger.

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In Rotherham’s last 18 league fixtures, they have tasted victory just three times.

The most recent of those came on February 28, when Hamshaw oversaw a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle.

Hamshaw departs Rotherham with a record of 14 wins, 11 draws and 24 defeats from 49 games in charge.

Despite the alarming run of form, Hamshaw remained determined to turn the club’s fortunes around but acknowledged his tenure was on shaky ground when he spoke to the media following Rotherham’s 5-0 loss to Peterborough on Tuesday.

“I am a hugely passionate Rotherham United man who wants to get this club back to where it belongs,” Hamshaw said, per the Yorkshire Post.

“There are a number of things that aren’t for me to comment on that I am trying to deal with – I have dealt with some and not dealt with others – that is going to take a long time.

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“As always, hopefully I am here Saturday. If I am not here, that’s on the club. But I wish this club nothing but the best. I always will.

“I will back in that stand as soon as I can. But some people give me a bit more stick for thinking it’s me who has put this club in this position.

“We’re trying our best to get it back to where it needs to be. If we have an attitude that we can’t get out, we won’t get out. But I have firmly got an attitude that we can.”

Rotherham will look to put the Peterborough defeat behind them when they travel to league leaders Lincoln City on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm.