Lee Clark, the former Newcastle United midfielder, has made his return to English football after a four-year absence from management by taking charge at Rotherham United.
The 52-year-old has penned a short-term agreement with the Millers that runs until the conclusion of the current campaign.
His appointment follows Rotherham’s dismissal of Matt Hamshaw from the managerial position earlier today.
Clark’s most recent role in the English game was with Bury back in 2017 before subsequent stints took him abroad to Sudanese outfit Al-Merrikh and Omani side Al-Ittihad.
His final overseas posting ended in March 2022 following a brief 51-day tenure in Sudan.
The Millers find themselves in a perilous position in the third tier, currently occupying 22nd place in the standings.
With a six-point gap separating them from safety, the South Yorkshire club faces an uphill battle to preserve its League One status.
Clark has been handed a singular objective: keeping Rotherham in the division.
Lee Clark has made his return to English football after a four-year absence from management by taking charge at Rotherham United
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The former Toon favourite brings with him valuable experience of guiding struggling sides away from danger.
He has previously demonstrated his ability to steer clubs clear of the trapdoor.
His track record in such situations will be crucial as the Millers attempt to claw their way out of the relegation places before the season concludes.
Clark’s credentials for such rescue missions are well established, most notably through his successful intervention at Bury nine years ago.
Lee Clark has penned a short-term agreement with the Millers that runs until the conclusion of the current campaign
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Arriving at Gigg Lane in February 2017 with the Shakers languishing in the relegation zone, he managed to guide them to safety before the campaign’s end.
That achievement demonstrated his capacity to galvanise struggling squads when the stakes are at their highest.
His two-year spell at Birmingham City also saw him navigate treacherous waters, with the Blues avoiding the drop on goal difference alone during his second season at St Andrew’s in 2014.
However, not all of Clark’s managerial ventures have ended positively.
As a player, Clark claimed three second-tier championship medals
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His tenure at Blackpool, which began in October 2014 after departing Birmingham, resulted in Championship relegation with six matches still remaining, the Tangerines managing just three victories under his stewardship.
Prior to these challenging assignments, Clark enjoyed his most fruitful period in the dugout at Huddersfield Town.
During four seasons with the Terriers, he secured two top-six finishes that earned play-off berths.
As a player, Clark claimed three second-tier championship medals, though replicating such success in management has proved more elusive throughout his career.
