RUFC - The Captain Speaks

Rotherham United's late capture of Graham Coughlan has been well spoken about throughout the Rotherham United World - and we have had fans from other clubs telling us what an asset he will be to the team.

Today, he speaks to The Advertiser about his expectations from the club.

'It's a great honour to captain any football team,' the big defender says,'but, without sounding negative, the captaincy is immaterial to me.

'There's enough leaders in our dressing room and I won't make a difference to any single individual. I'll still bark out orders, drive people forward, urge them on and I do expect one hundred percent from each and every one of them.

'We can carry the desire and hunger that there is here onto the playing field and if we do that and do what the manager expects then at the end of the season we should be there or there abouts.'

Coughlan captained local rivals Sheffield Wednesday and he said when he was released at the end of the season he had over a hundred offers and meetings, trained with various clubs but he felt things weren't right.

'I had a gut feeling when I said 'yes' to Rotherham, just felt it was right. When I was in the reserves at Blackburn some ten or twelve years ago, Rotherham were the first team on the phone to give me a chance to move across here, I don't forget details like that. I also had my family to think about and they are settled round here. And, of course, the enthusiasm of Mark Robins and John Breckin sold the club to me.

'I'm no stranger to Rotherham and I have played against some of the lads here, so I know them.

'The club needs some stability and it needs a bit of success too. Millmoor has always been known as a tough place to come too and we have to make it a fortress now, keep clean sheets and win football matches.

'Rotherham, as a club, is renowned up and down the country - it's a club with a bit of tradition.'

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