Birmingham City could take a hit after big Rotherham United news: View | OneFootball

Rotherham United have replaced boss Leam Richardson with Steve Evans, with the Stevenage manager taking the reins at the New York Stadium immediately.

The Millers have already had their relegation from the Championship confirmed this season, following a miserable campaign that has seen them register just four league victories.

Richardson had only been in the post for four months after the sacking of Matt Taylor earlier in the season, but was unable to oversee a turnaround in results, which ultimately led to his dismissal with three games of the season left to play.

Evans leaves League One Boro to return to the side that he earned League Two promotion with eleven years ago, and his return could spell bad news for Birmingham City in the relegation battle at the bottom of the second tier.

Steve Evans return to Rotherham United could spell bad news for Birmingham City in Championship survival bid.

Evans has managed a number of EFL teams over his established managerial career, with the likes of Leeds United, Peterborough United and Gillingham all appointing him as boss at one point in his career.

The former Crawley Town boss will split opinion among many Football League fans, but his ability to turn fortunes around for a side and turn them into point-earning machines can rarely be questioned, with Stevenage the latest example of that.

Boro were languishing in the depths of League Two when he took charge in the final stages of the 2021/22 campaign, before he oversaw a run of four wins in the final nine matches of the season to preserve their Football League status.

That form was continued throughout the following campaign, as he led his side to promotion from League Two following a sensational turnaround at the club, as they finished second behind Champions Leyton Orient.

After a promising start to the current campaign at the Lamex Stadium, Stevenage’s playoff ambitions have died a death in recent weeks, but the fact they even had any in the first place is testament to the work Evans has done at the club.

Rotherham will be no strangers to the miracles the boss can work at a football club, with his points return of 1.51 per match during his previous spell at the club one of the best returns for a full-time manager at the Yorkshire club in recent history.

Only current Coventry City boss Mark Robins can top that amount with 1.58 per game during his time in charge, which goes to prove just how well thought of Evans is by United fans.

That could spell bad news for Birmingham City, with the Blues heading to the New York Stadium this Saturday in what will now be the new manager’s second homecoming, and a fixture that he will want to set the standards for his tenure at the club.

Birmingham City face Rotherham United dilemma after Steve Evans appointment

With a fanbase fully behind their new man at the helm, the current crop of Millers players will be going all out to impress their new gaffer, with the hope of having their contracts renewed ahead of the impending League One campaign.

With Birmingham’s Championship status also hanging by a thread as it stands, the reinvigoration of the basement-side is the last thing they need heading into the weekend, with a tricky final few fixtures awaiting them.

City find themselves just a point above the drop zone with three games left to play in the second tier this season, with Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday just a point behind and ready to pounce on any slip ups from their fellow strugglers.

After a promising start to the campaign under John Eustace, the hierarchy at St Andrew's decided to appoint Wayne Rooney as boss, only for that plan to backfire with the former Manchester United man mustering just two wins from his 15 matches in charge.

Tony Mowbray was then appointed to steady the ship, only for the former Sunderland man having to spend some time away from the game due to health issues, leaving Gary Rowett in charge for the final few games of a crazy season at the club.

With their trip to Yorkshire now looking a much tougher affair, City may have to look to matches against Bristol City and Cardiff City in the final two matches of the season to rescue the all-important points to keep their heads above water this season.

With just ten goals to their name this calendar year the hosts perennially struggle in front of goal, but what they lose in talent Evans will make sure they make up for in heart and desire, and that could leave the Midlands side facing a real battle this coming weekend.