Steve Evans talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
In our final instalment of our interview with Steve Evans over the Bank Holiday weekend, the Millers boss updates us on plans for pre-season.
You have announced a double header to start pre-season friendlies, what type of sides will visit both Granthan and Stocksbridge?
“The game on July 11th will be mirroring what we did last year. There will be two mixed squads, one going to Stocksbridge and one going to Grantham, and we will publicise this the day before the match on the official website. If somebody has a preferred player that they want to watch then they can make a decision based on the announcement prior to the games. Both squads will be strong, they will be split evenly and one side will be watched by myself and another member of staff, with Paul Raynor and another staff member watching the other game.”
Will you be adding anymore dates for pre-season?
“We are waiting on a few phone calls back in terms of pencilling in a date for the week commencing the 27th July, and we are hopeful of having a game either on Saturday 1st August or Sunday 2nd August in front of our home supporters.
“There also might be the odd other game at the training ground in between those fixtures. We have also been invited to Manchester City to take part in a closed door training ground game in July, and we are just looking at that with the staff to see how that might be accommodated into our pre-season plans.”
When will the players be returning for pre-season?
“The first day for the players to be back has been pencilled in for the 30th June and the staff will be back a day or two before that. The staff have had some time off, and like in previous years, I like to have them back refreshed and ready and hopefully we can start putting things in place for the upcoming season. Paul Warne has been away but I know he has been working hard from a fitness perspective to have everything ready for when the boys return.”
Player meetings to continue next week?
“I will be meeting players and their representatives and that will be intensified over the next few weeks, and in between that I have several dates for my pro-licence which I am well into.
“I also had a very good meeting recently with my preferred choice to add to the coaching staff. I will wait to hear the feedback from that meeting and if that is positive then I will then take that to the Chairman.”