Rotherham United boss Steve Evans has doubled down on his comparison of League One rivals Wrexham to the Harlem Globetrotters whilst also commenting on Birmingham City’s spending.
Evans is in his first full season back with the Millers after returning to their club shortly after their relegation to League One was confirmed. Starting the season as one of the favourites for promotion, Rotherham have found life difficult in the opening 10 games of the season, only picking up three wins and four draws with a minus goal difference. However, they are now unbeaten in three, and have only lost once in their last six games showing an upturn to their early form.
Callum, one of the hosts of the League One Lowdown Podcast however is not impressed despite the back-to-back wins:
“They are starting to show some of that grit, the Steve Evans grit of staying in games and what not, but I don’t know what you can really take from a 92nd winner against a dreadful Cambridge side and coming from just a gal down from a Reading side that are already shattered after just 10 games. With Reading specifically it must be mentally and physically draining being at that club”
“Steve Evans, I’m still to be convinced I still think it is a weird appointment but three points are three points”
The former Stevenage manager has become known for some headline grabbing comments throughout his career, often commenting on the size of other team’s budgets compared to his own and this season appears to be no different with Wrexham and Birmingham City firmly in the manager’s crosshairs.
Speaking earlier in the season Evans stated to BBC Radio Sheffield:
“We’ve not played the Real Madrid of League One, we play them on Saturday week and we’ve not played the Harlem Globetrotters, which will turn up when Parky brings Wrexham here with the stars and the attention that comes from that with the ownership,”
However, he has now doubled down on his comments to the Yorkshire Post:
“Wrexham come here in between. I’ve described them as the Harlem Globetrotters of League One,”
“Birmingham are the boys with the big money. Wrexham have also got money, but they’ve got the movie stars as well. Our only focus now, quite rightly, is Peterborough, with a degree of focus towards Newcastle,”
All Flash and No Substance – Far From the Truth
It would be easy to look at Wrexham’s Hollywood owners and their previous big spending in the National League and League Two as an indicator that they are simply a show team like the Harlem Globetrotters, but the reality is far from that. Wrexham are in League One because they thoroughly earned it, Phil Parkinson’s men may have increased marketing which will allow them to increase their exposure and income that other clubs may not have the luxury of, but they are not simply buying their way to glory.
The strong hard-working side have impressed so far this season holding down second spot just ahead of Mansfield Town and Lincoln City and behind leaders Birmingham City. The Welsh side have spent a fraction of what the Blues have and have to date kept up with Chris Davies side, despite defeat at their hands earlier in the season.
Steve Evans often uses these comments as a distraction, pointing at whoever is doing well and labelling them as big spenders and pointing to what a remarkable job he is doing with such a small budget.