Rotherham United chief Robins ready to make move to Barnsley

<div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">ROTHERHAM United manager Mark Robins is set to quit and join local rivals Barnsley.
</div> The former Manchester United striker is due to hold talks with Barnsley owner Patrick Cryne today after meeting director Barry Taylor and general manager Don Rowing at Oakwell on Wednesday night.

Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart is virtually resigned to his departure and has already begun the search for a new manager.

Stewart placed Robins on 'gardening leave' yesterday with assistant manager John Breckin put in charge of preparations for tomorrow's League Two game against Chesterfield.

News of the impending loss is a major setback for the Millers who are second in the League Two table.

However, veteran striker Andy Liddell, who started his career at Barnsley and joined the Millers this summer, is confident the club will be able to find an adequate replacement.

&quot;It would be a blow to the club to lose someone like that but I've played for enough managers at different clubs to know that no one person is bigger than the football club,&quot; said Liddell. &quot;This club will carry on regardless of who is at the helm so, if he did go, I'm sure the board would find an adequate replacement to fill his shoes.&quot;

Liddell, 36, spent seven years at Barnsley in the early Nineties and was part of the side under Danny Wilson that went in and out of the Premier League. He has worked under Robins for just a few months after being released by Oldham Athletic at the end of last season .

&quot;I can already tell what a good manager he is and that he knows what he is talking about,&quot; said Liddell. &quot;I think the most important thing is for Mark to make the right decision for himself &ndash; because you don't always get the opportunities you want at the time you want them.&quot;

Robins is only one year into a four-year deal with the Millers and steered the club to a mid-table finish last season despite being docked 17 points by the Football League.

When asked about the possibility of moving to Barnsley this week, Robins pledged his loyalty to the Millers and stressed that he wanted to stay and lead the club to promotion.

However, he also admitted that &quot;every manager worth his salt has ambition and has to move when the time was right.&quot;

He also expressed a desire for news on the club's proposed move to a new stadium and has been unhappy with the recent state of the pitch at their temporary home, the Don Valley Stadium.

Robins was given permission to speak to Barnsley on Wednesday after chairman Stewart announced that it would be wrong to stand in his way.

Stewart is happy that Barnsley have behaved in accordance with Football Association rules and has not fallen out with Robins over his decision. &quot;I have employed people for 37 years and when people decide they want to leave, I don't stand in anyone's way,&quot; said Stewart. &quot;We were always going to face this problem moving forward because we are doing well as a club.

&quot;Mark has confirmed that his talks with Barnsley FC are not yet concluded,&quot; added Stewart. &quot;Whilst he remains our manager, it has been agreed that he will take a period of 'gardening leave' until the matter is resolved.&quot;

Although Robins was the first candidate to be officially interviewed by Barnsley, the Oakwell club still have a list of other
targets should he fail to agree personal terms.

Brentford's Andy Scott, however, has ruled himself out of the running and former Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd has taken over at Colchester United.

The Tykes are bottom of the Championship with one point from the first five games.

Former manager Simon Davey, who had been in charge for nearly three years at Oakwell, was axed just hours after Saturday's home defeat by Reading, leaving Barnsley seeking a 10th manager in just over a decade.

General manager Don Rowing said: &quot;We had a lengthy meeting with Mark Robins on Wednesday night and now he will be sitting down for talks with Patrick Cryne. We feel Mark has done a very good job at Rotherham, he is ambitious, forthright, and knows what he wants.&quot;

Rowing admitted that there were still issues to be resolved and Barnsley will also have to pay compensation to the Millers.
<div id="headerimage"> <h1><a href="http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/"><font size="1" color="#000000"> 4/9/09</font>
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remember the last time we had a former United striker?

E I E I E I O etc

 

Deiniol Graham ? nt

 

just been down for some match tickets and no sign of anyone outside the ground. I would have got a pic if any suspicious car registration plates or people.

not niaive and know any talks likely to take place inside

 

Nardiello nt nt

 

awaiting Patrick's return from Holiday today.so no action till Mr Cryne has a chance to talk to Mark Robbins.

 

Andy Rammell?? nt