Lee Clark has lambasted his Rotherham United players as a 3-1 loss to South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley puts the Millers on the brink of the drop.
The Tykes were clear runaway winners at the New York Stadium, leaving Rotherham needing to make up a 13-point deficit to AFC Wimbledon in their five remaining games in order to pull off a miracle and remain in League One.
Clark Gives Brutal Assessment
Despite scoring their first goal under Clark, who made a shock return to management four years after his last permanent appointment, United were swept away by the Tykes, putting them on the brink of a first spell in League Two since 2013.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post following the full-time whistle, the former Blackpool head aired out his frustrations with some of his players.
“I apologise for the performance. I felt some people gave up in the second half. That’s unacceptable in any game, but especially in a derby match. It gives you an indication why we are where we are.
“It’s galling. Lots of these players are out of contract. If they think that they’ll just move on to pastures new and get a contract elsewhere, they might be in for a shock.
“It’s getting harder to earn contracts now with the financial difficulties some clubs have. They can’t just give contracts out willy-nilly. It’ll be a tough reality check for some of the players to be honest.
“If there are people who think that that’s the end and they don’t want to try to contribute (here), no problem.
“But I’ll not be looking after them. I’ll be letting the fans know, I’ll be letting the football world know. I’m not saying it has happened, but if people have that mentality that they’re not ready to go anymore and that they want to throw the towel, there will be repercussions, absolutely.”
Relegation Allows Refresh
It is pretty much game over for Rotherham United now in their hopes of avoiding League Two, with Lee Clark’s appointment failing to bail the Millers out of their hole, and barring a miracle, their fate is sealed.
Confirmation could come as soon as next weekend against Wigan Athletic, with a loss sending them down, and arguably, that release could help the club in trying to bounce back in the future.
As Clark fumed about, some of the players within the Rotherham United squad have arguably downed tools, and a reset of the playing squad is needed after three years of decline.
Whether the 53-year-old is the right man to lead them into the fourth tier is another question, with the football being played far from inspiring and Sam Nombe’s last-minute consolation being the first goal in over nine hours of football for the Millers.
The fans’ anger, however, is becoming increasingly directed at the board and ownership group, with faith in Tony Stewart and others in senior positions depleting rapidly.
A lot of decisions will have to be made over the coming months, but the most prescient will be over Clark, who has not ruled out continuing with the club, and if he gets his way, a clearout of the current squad is the best route forward to try and bring Rotherham back up the leagues.
