Knill - 'I'm still a novice'

Manager Alan Knill has said before that he is just doing his job and doesn`t like 'pats on the back` but after a year at the helm of the Millers, the fans, at least, think he deserves all the plaudits he has been receiving lately.

Alan Knill has done it all at Millmoor, player, reserve and first team coach, caretaker manager (twice) and finally manager. He told the Rotherham Star that he treats the players, whatever age, the same. He`s honest with them. 'If I thought they were cr*p, I`d tell them,` he said. 'I have tried to manage like I played and if someone asks me a question I give them a straight answer and let them deal with it.`

'I try to tell the players if they put enough effort into something you will get a result.`

Off the football field, Knill threw himself into the fund raising campaign to save the club. 'It enabled me to go out and mingle with the fans,` he said, 'and it taught me what Saturday afternoon is all about for the people who come to watch. The Rotherham supporters are absolutely brilliant and I saw what it all meant. It was huge for me as a person.`

'I like working here. I am more than happy and the people here have done everything they can for me. The future - well I don`t know. I`m a novice but, of course, as you get more experienced, you want to test yourself - that`s how to improve.`

'This football club is a big part of the community and even though we don`t get big gates it means a hell of a lot to a heck of a lot of people.`

Knill also said that he liked a challenge - it`s perhaps a good thing he does. He`s already over come one hurdle of building a new team out of next to nothing. His next big challenge must surely be to try and hang onto his young up and coming players.

Keep it up, Alan, we are all behind you.

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