Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has revealed that he and his players will ease off their intense preparations ahead of the 2020/21 return to football by taking a week away from their Roundwood training base.
The Millers first team players and staff returned to their training HQ a number of weeks ago when the guidelines on the UK lockdown were eased, and despite the strict COVID-19 preventative measures in place concerning group sizes among other precautions, have been hard at work for what is likely to be their longest ‘pre-season’ yet.
Warne, who is renowned for his desire to lay the foundations for a successful campaign with hours of fitness work over the summer months, heaped praise on his squad for the condition in which they have reported back to first team training having not kicked a ball since March, but is once again honouring his commitment to ensuring his players spend some quality time with their loved ones before 2020/21 gets kicked off.
“The lads are going to have a bit of downtime for a week before we step our preparations up again ahead of the new season,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“When we initially called the players back in, we were following guidance that suggested the new campaign might kick off at the back end of August but we are now being led to believe that it won’t be until mid-September at the earliest.
“With that in mind, I think it is important we give the lads some time off and break up what could have effectively been an 11-week pre-season.”
As our supporters will be well-aware, Warne and his staff have remained on the pulse throughout over the lockdown months.
As well as securing the signature of Mickel Miller on the football front, the first team boss has reaffirmed the club’s commitment to the community with the regular hosting of the Millersmind Saturday night quiz – which raised in excess of £1,500 for the Rotherham Hospice – and the recording of countless video messages to mark milestone occasions for fans.
It is with that in mind, that we are pleased to hear that he will be taking some time off with his own family, whilst remaining on call for any key decisions that require his input at the club.
“There isn’t a day that my phone won’t ring regarding something at the football club, so I will be staying a little closer to home,” Warne explained.
“My happy place is Center Parcs, so I’ll have a few days there with Rachel, the kids and Chief, who will be coming for his first Warne holiday.
“As our fans know, it is important to me that the lads get some time away from the building and with their families. Next season is going to demand another huge effort from them. I’ve given them permission to go away if they want to, but they are all of course aware that they need to take extra care if they choose to do so.”