Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
After the postponement of yesterday's match away at Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans and his players were back on the training ground this morning as the preparations for the big Boxing Day match with Port Vale started.With yesterday's match at Rovers being postponed, does that affect your preparations for the match with Port Vale?
The answer to that is most definitely yes. Our preparations for matches and training is done weeks in advance but obviously fine tuned as we get nearer the matches and we identify what if anything specifically that we need to work on.
Talking of the match being postponed, what happened yesterday with another late call off is just not acceptable. Despite being told the match was not in any doubt when my staff visited Rovers mid-morning it was very clear that the match would not go ahead. The surface had multiple areas of standing water and it is a great shame our supporters did not get any advance warning the match was in serious doubt.
Our supporters have had to endure late call off's at Accrington, Notts County and again yesterday and I feel for them. Something has to be done to correct these things happening, in modern day football it is not acceptable. The match referee did his job, even he in many ways was let down.
Can you update us on the current injury situation?
The treatment room is looking a lot less busy and I must give great credit to my staff who have done a splendid job in working diligently in this area, some weeks to the point of exhaustion.
The only players not available are Craig Morgan and Lionel Ainsworth, both should be back with us in early January.
Dale Tonge and David Noble are back in full training which in itself is great news so competition for places is getting to a level where we need it to be.
With the opening of the January transfer window fast approaching can you update us on any business that may or even may not happen?
There is much going on and I have to be careful, simply for confidentiality reasons, to what I can and cannot say.
First let me repeat that none of our core first-team squad players will be leaving in January. In the last week, two separate clubs have tabled offers for Kari Arnason but they have been rejected and the interest from those clubs is not welcome, the player is not for sale.
My Chairman tells me his discussions with Peterborough United continue regarding the purchase of Lee Frecklington, I do not know anymore than that.
During the early part of the transfer window I would think we may see a couple of our players leave on a permanent basis and hopefully we can secure the signature of a couple of others.
I am particularly excited about the possibility of signing another full international player, now he would be a top quality signing. I have a meeting scheduled with him on the 27th December but the fact he has agreed to meet me tells me he has taken my interest very seriously. This lad has played around 30 times for his country in the last few seasons, he would be another big piece of our jig-saw.
Have you got any message for the Millers supporters as we fast approach Christmas Day?
Yes of course I do and it comes in two little words but means so much, Thank You!
Our supporters have been fantastic since the day I joined the Millers. The people in Rotherham are fantastic, straight forward, sincere and tell you as it is, now that is similar to what happens in Glasgow, the city I was born and bred.
The Millers supporters love their football club, the passion and feeling for their club is special. On behalf of all the players and staff, thank you again. A full house at the New York Stadium on Boxing Day will be sight to see and hopefully a special day for all of us.
May I wish all the Millers supporters a very happy and healthy Christmas. On a personal level I am proud to be the manager of such a great club. We have a full house on Boxing Day and I will doing all I can to make sure we put in a performance that makes you proud of your team.
Port Vale are a quality team so our task is a tough one but the prize is worth fighting for, enjoy your Christmas everyone.
UP THE MILLERS!
Steve Evans