We preview the South-Yorkshire side
League 1 preview:
Next on our preview list is fellow League 2 promotion side Rotherham United. The South-Yorkshire side piped Vale to second place last season after Vale ended the season with four draws.
The Merry Millers will have larger finances than most in League 1 and will be a competitive side under Steve Evans.
Team: Rotherham United
Five back-to-back wins in April saw Rotherham promoted to League 1, just ahead of Vale.
The South-Yorkshire side had been stuck in League 2 for the previous five seasons but they will now ply their trade in League 1 alongside Vale.
Last season was the club’s first season in their new New York Stadium the move coincided with Rotherham’s first promotion since 2001, could this be a lucky charm?
If Daniel Nardiello can score the same amount of goals in League 1, then Rotherham will be threat to anyone in the league. The former Exeter City striker bagged 20 in all competitions.
Interestingly the Chuckle Brothers are honorary presidents of the club. Hopefully Micky Adams’ side will have the last laugh when the two sides meet on December 29.
Players:
Steve Evans has already been active in the transfer window this summer, bringing in no less than seven players.
Left-back Joe Skarz has signed from relegated League 1 side Bury. On the other side of the defence Richard Brindley has joined from League 2 side Chesterfield, the 20-year-old joins on a free transfer.
Evans has also invested in a new goalkeeper Adam Collin has joined from fellow League 1 rivals Carlisle United.
Up front, Evans has supplemented Nardiello by adding Danny Hylton from Aldershot Town.
Another player joining from Bury is David Worrall.
Heading out the exit door is veteran goalkeeper Andy Warrington, young striker Alec Denton and defender Dale Tonge.
Also departing the New York Stadium is former England Under 21 defender and Bolton right-back Nicky Hunt who has joined Accrington Stanley.
Manager: Steve Evans
The former Crawley Town manager has enjoyed success in the lower leagues of English football with Stamford, Boston and Crawley Town.
Promotion with Rotherham was his first in the Football League, still few off Micky Adams’ four promotions.
Evans will have a larger budget than most and has already bought in players ahead of the new season.
Key Man: Michael O’Conner
Northern Ireland international Michael O’Conner won many plaudits last season, the 25-year-old midfielder scored six goals last term and became a crowd favourite for his all-action displays.
He also scored a consolation goal when Vale hammered Rotherham 6-2 in September last year.
Promotion odds: 11/2