Lee Clark has accused members of his Rotherham United squad of effectively opting out ahead of their decisive relegation clash with Wigan Athletic.
The Millers’ 3-0 defeat confirmed their drop from League One, but the fallout has been dominated by the manager’s blunt assessment of what he encountered behind the scenes in the build-up.
Clark, appointed on a short-term deal late in the season, revealed he was left scrambling to piece together a side for the trip after a series of late call-offs from players citing illness or fitness concerns. The situation, he suggested, summed up the deeper issues that have contributed to Rotherham’s relegation.
Clark lifts lid on pre-match chaos
Speaking after the defeat at the Brick Community Stadium, Clark did not hold back as he explained the difficulty he faced in simply naming a team.
“We had to go to the ground this afternoon to do some tactical work because I couldn’t pick a team yesterday because some players were calling in sick, some were saying they weren’t 100 per cent fit.”
He went further, highlighting one specific instance that underlined his frustration with the group.
“One of them rang in sick. We asked him to come in to be checked and he ended up training. That’s what you’re dealing with.”
It’s a remarkable claim by Clark, and one that is sure to anger fans who travelled to watch their side go down. Fans expect players to fight for the shirt, and knowing some shied away from the fight will doubtless fire anger and upset.
Relegation confirmed as problems mount
The defeat at Wigan left Rotherham 13 points from safety with only 12 remaining to play for, sealing their return to League Two for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign. Clark, out of the English professional game for almost a decade, also admitted the emotional toll the situation has taken, both professionally and personally.
“I’m hurting. I’m hurting for me personally, because I don’t like the way the team’s playing. I don’t like the results. I’m also hurting for the fans.”
“I’ve got a great affinity with the fans. I understand what they’re about. Some of them might be thinking I’m useless. They’re probably right with the results and the performances. But there’s a reason.”
Those final words perhaps offer the clearest insight into Clark’s thinking. While results have been poor, he is pointing firmly at deeper issues within the squad as a major contributing factor.
Imps fans can probably understand where he is coming from. His side seemingly gave up after conceding the first against us, and were 3-0 down at half time. Only a strong team talk gave them more fight in the second period.
With relegation now confirmed, attention will quickly turn to what changes are required, both on and off the pitch, to prevent further decline.
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