Rotherham United have officially parted ways with manager Matt Hamshaw. Some fans will feel this was long overdue, after a shocking season that now has the club staring at relegation to League Two, as the South Yorkshire club sit six points adrift of safety..
Hamshaw initially joined the club as an interim following Steve Evans’ departure. He went on to sign a three-year deal last April, following years of service in the coaching department under Paul Warne.
Last night’s 5-0 defeat away at Peterborough United was enough to seal the 44-year-old’s fate. The club now sits 22nd in League One, with six points separating them from 20th-placed Wigan Athletic.
The Millers have not featured in League Two since the 2012-13 season, making the prospect of relegation particularly shocking given that the club has generally floated between the top end of League One and the bottom of the Championship for the last decade.
While safety is still a possibility for the Millers, their next appointment should consider the likelihood of the club playing in the fourth tier next season, where an immediate return to League One would be the expectation. This article will explore five potential manager options that Rotherham United could consider.
Ryan Lowe – Unattached
A name that emerges for most vacancies in League One and League Two, Ryan Lowe would be a more than suitable candidate for Rotherham.
Parting ways with their relegation rivals Wigan Athletic last February, it was not long ago that Lowe was considered one of the finest up-and-coming managers in EFL.
He is a proven promotion winner in League Two with Bury and Plymouth Argyle, where his positive brand of football was held in high regard as he took the latter on to challenge for promotion in League One before leaving for Preston North End.
While his time at Wigan was dismal, football can be an unforgiving sport, and Lowe’s capabilities as a manager should not be underestimated.
Should Rotherham fall into League Two, he would be the perfect fit to guide them back to League One at the first time of asking. He has also shown himself capable of fixing a defence, as he showed last season when he first came into the job at Wigan. This would improve their chances of staying in the division, while offering hope should the Millers fall into the fourth tier.
Darren Moore – Unattached
Another big name in the current managerial market, Darren Moore, has shown himself to be a capable operator at Rotherham’s level.
Parting ways with Port Vale earlier in the season, the 2025-26 campaign did not go according to plan for the former West Brom coach. However, Moore is a perfect fit should Rotherham find themselves in League Two next year.
Having won promotions with Sheffield Wednesday and Port Vale in League One and League Two, respectively, he has always performed well with clubs that make the best resources available.
Next year, the Millers would presumably have one of the better budgets in the fourth tier while targeting an immediate return, so bringing in a manager who has proven capable under those circumstances would be a sensible move.
However, he has not shown much guile in a relegation battle in his managerial career, meaning that he may not be the man to turn results around for the club immediately.
Darren Ferguson – Unattached
Maintaining the theme of Darrens who have promotions on their CV, Darren Ferguson is another suitable candidate for the club.
Regarded for a distinctly positive brand of football that has been pivotal to Peterborough United’s successful campaigns over the years, Ferguson would be a suitable candidate to take Rotherham back to the third tier next season should they be relegated.
Additionally, with over 600 games managed in his career, he knows the EFL divisions better than most available managers, which would suit their current predicament.
More than familiar with battles at both ends of the league tables, this would be a big coup for the South Yorkshire club. However, bigger jobs could potentially arise for the head coach.
Darrell Clarke – Unattached
Knowing what it takes to keep a side tightly-knit, Darrell Clarke is a more than viable candidate despite recent stints.
Clarke’s CV is very hot and cold, but he is nonetheless a very respectable manager at the EFL level. While his stint with Bristol Rovers was disastrous this season, as was his recent stint with Barnsley, Clarke would be a capable operator in Rotherham’s current situation.
Now finding themselves staring relegation in the face with a poor record at both ends of the pitch, the 48-year-old can reinforce the “grit” that the Millers will need to see out the season with.
Nine games remain on their fixture list, with most of those being against sides in the top half of the division. They will need to dig deep now more than ever if they are to have a fighting chance of maintaining their third-tier status for next season.
And Clarke has shown himself to be equipped for this kind of task before, most recently with Cheltenham Town. A rebuild is required at the club either way, and Clarke presents good prospects in both the long-term and short-term.
Alan Sheehan – Unattached
Alan Sheehan feels like a good manager waiting to happen. He earned praise for the defensive stability he enforced at Swansea City in his first permanent role, but parted ways when the South Wales club struggled at the other end of the pitch.
He managed to claim a stunning 24 points from an available 39 last season, taking charge after Luke Williams’ departure.
So in his currently short career as a manager, he has shown himself capable of turning a side around quickly, which is exactly what the South Yorkshire club’s current situation needs. He is generally seen as hot property in the managerial market.
This would represent a highly ambitious appointment for Rotherham, who desperately need their pending clear-out to be matched with fresh ideas if they are to move forward as a club.
United could certainly do worse than Sheehan.