Departing goalkeeper coach Mike Pollitt insists boyhood club Bolton Wanderers were the only club he could make the decision to leave the Millers in favour of, adding that he has created memories that will stay with him forever.
Pollitt, whose return to Rotherham United was facilitated by current boss Paul Warne, enjoyed promotion via the Play-off Final at Wembley with the Millers in 2017/18 having joined prior to the club’s relegation from the second tier shortly after Warne was permanently appointed to the AESSEAL New York Stadium hotseat.
The popular 47-year-old has worked closely with the likes of Marek Rodak and Daniel Iversen, as well as playing a part in their recruitment and had only positive words to say about his close to three-year spell as a coach with the club he served as a player during the Ronnie Moore era.
"Had it been any other club, I wouldn't have dreamed of going but obviously Bolton is my hometown and I have supported them since I was a lad. I just couldn't turn it down,” he admitted to www.themillers.co.uk.
"I spoke to Warney and it was a really hard conversation when I told him but he totally understood my decision. I've known him for a long time as a friend and now a work colleague.
"We text each other to tell the other how much time we have for each other and we'll miss working with one another every day but the lure of coming to Bolton, where I have always wanted to work even in my playing days, was just too much.”
"Since I came back as a coach with Warney we've had some really good times. The first season was hard, but then we managed to get promotion in the second and we were unlucky in the Championship last year where we gave a good account of ourselves. It has all been good memories and ones I will have with me for life.
"I have nothing but fond memories from my time here and Rotherham United will always be in my heart.
"I was at Wigan for 11 years and I've had 9 at Rotherham including my time coaching, so the best part of 20 years has been spent at two clubs.”
Bolton-raised Pollitt continued to add that he has enjoyed working with all of the goalkeepers at Rotherham United, but has been delighted to have played a role in the development of loan stoppers Marek Rodak and Daniel Iversen, explaining that he will miss his colleagues at Roundwood as he leaves for pastures new.
"I've left a lot of good lads here, the team are good but the staff are especially brilliant people. From Warney to the medical team we all got on so well and it was a bit of a wrench saying goodbye to them all,” he explained.
"We've been lucky. We had Marek [Rodak] for two years and he did ever so well for us. He's playing back at Fulham now in the first team so we've helped his career as much as he helped us. I like to think we put him in a good place and I like to think he thoroughly enjoyed his time at the club. I still keep in touch with him now and he's always asking about Rotherham.
"It has been similar with Dan [Iversen] this year. There is nothing between them, they are both top goalkeepers and we've been blessed with excellent goalkeepers. Dan has had a good season here and hopefully when he goes back to Leicester he can push for a place there, although it will be difficult.”
Pollitt, whose long affiliation with the Millers dates as far back as 1998 when he originally joined as a player, insists he will remain in touch with his Rotherham colleagues, who will undoubtedly miss his unique sense of humour.
"One of Warney's parting messages was: Who is going to send me videos of dogs driving cars now?” Pollitt joked.
"I started a group chat with the coaches which is just for me, Richie, Hammy and the Gaffer but because I created it, I can't delete it. I'm going to change it to the 'Old Friends Group' and I'm sure I can keep them entertained in there. I’ll definitely stay in touch.”