Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has confirmed that the club’s Sports Science and Medical Department has undergone a summer restructure which also prompts the arrival of a new Senior Performance Coach in Brent Dickinson, who joins from Nottingham Forest.
Following Ross Burbeary’s departure for Lincoln City at the back end of the 2021/22 campaign, work has been taking place behind-the-scenes at Roundwood to reshuffle a department which has improved year-upon-year at the club’s training base and the Millers manager admits he is pleased with how it is shaping up ahead of the Sky Bet Championship season.
Alongside welcoming an experienced operator in Brent from the City Ground, there has been an internal promotion for the previously-titled Head of Medical Stephen Gilpin, who will now head up the provision.
Gilpin has become one of the manager’s trusted charges – having worked closely with him across two spells either side of a stint with Hull City – and is an individual who not only understands and embraces the culture at Rotherham United, but has ambitions of further developing the club off-the-field.
Speaking to www.themillers.co.uk about the restructuring of the Sports Science and Medical Department, Warne expressed his pleasure at the look of his newly-formed setup.
"He's going to be a really good addition for us,” the Millers boss said of the arrival of Brent Dickinson.
"I'm really pleased that we've been able to convince him to come and obviously his last days at Nottingham Forest were spent getting promoted to the Premier League."
"He's a good bloke and a local lad.
"He's been on our staff WhatsApp group for a few weeks now. Losing Ross was a massive blow - I've said that from Day One - but we believe we've got a great replacement in Brent.
"It's good to have him on-board. He's worked in the Championship for years and that experience will be vital.
"It's a different voice and we're always trying to change things for the lads.
"It's like at the training ground at the moment, it isn't a huge change, but we're changing the kitchen and a few other bits to keep the environment as fresh as we can.
"Ross left before the end of the season and Gilps stepped up. He has my full trust. He's really good at what he does and he's really professional."
"He runs the medical department really well and he knows it inside-out.
"He'll be doing a bit more of the admin on top of his previous role which will also allow the fitness guys to get stuck into that."