Eric Black joins the Millers...
Rotherham United have appointed Eric Black as the new first team coach.
The former Coventry City boss has joined Steve Evans’ backroom team, playing an instrumental role in pre-season training after the players reported back for duty last week.
A former Scottish international, Black is an experienced coach who has worked with a string of high profile clubs including Celtic, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, whilst also having a short but successful stint as boss of Coventry City, and managing Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership. He has also filled in as caretaker manager on a number of occasions, including last season at Wigan Athletic.
“I became aware that there was a possibility that Eric might leave Wigan and after making contact, I am delighted having met him that we managed to put something together,” Millers boss Steve Evans told www.themillers.co.uk
“Eric is fundamentally a coach who arrives here with impeccable references given to me by the likes of Craig Brown, Steve Bruce and Gerard Houllier. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge as a coach from a career spanning over 20 years and he will have a major part to play at Rotherham United going forward.”
As a player, he won the Cup Winners’ Cup with Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson, whilst also enjoying a spell in France with FC Metz. He was capped twice by Scotland, before finishing his playing career in 1991.
With a reputation as one of the finest coaches outside the Premier League, Black will join forces with boss Evans, assistant Paul Raynor and fitness coach Paul Warne at the club training headquarters at Roundwood.
“His CV as a player and a coach is of the highest quality and he is someone I have known and respected for almost 25 years,” added Evans.
“Paul Raynor and Eric are already very much working in tandem and the lads have already stated they are delighted with how the backroom team is now working. Eric has brought a new voice to the training ground, and we will benefit greatly from his expertise as we look to build on our success of the last three years.”
Black will be on the touchline tonight with assistant manager Raynor as the Millers take on Parkgate for the first pre-season friendly of the close season.
The club can also confirm that Mike Preston has returned as Head of Medical to replace the retired Denis Circuit. Mike joins after a spell at Leyton Orient and served the club previously as youth team physio.