Knill - An Honest Man

Alan Knill has done it all at Millmoor, from being a player and coach to taking charge of the youths, the reserves and now for the past year the first team.

And Knill has taken something from all those jobs and put them into the job he now does, "Dealing with players has never been a problem for me, I think it helped being a coach and especially to the youths. I was in my mid-30s and dealing with 16-17-years-olds. Fortunately, we had some things in common like music, clothes and films, so to interract was pretty easy." he told todays Star.

One thing that Knill stands for is honesty, "Everybody can cope with honesty, it's something they like and can deal with, It's lies and deceit they can't cope with."

"When Ronnie Moore was here and I took the reserves, it didn't matter who was playing - if I thought they were crap, then I'd tell 'em. Guy Branston, Alan Lee ... it didn't matter, I'd say it. They don't like it, but everyone respects it."

"Tell something from the heart - I've always been like that, and I'll try and be the same as a manager. If someone asks you a question, then you give them a straight answer and let them deal with it." he added.

Knill had only been in the job for a couple of months when the club hit the rocks, and the future of the club was in the balance.

The jury was still out on Knill, but he was going out to fundraising events on top of the scouting and training, but even this was a learning curve for him.

He told the Star, "It enabled me to get out and meet and mingle with the fans - I didn't know them and they didn't know me, Until then, I'd go to work, do my job, go home.

"It was a big thing for me because it taught me what Saturday afternoon is all about for people who come and watch. The thought of the football club going out of business and what it meant hit home, because it's a big part of the community. Even though we don't get great gates, the club means a hell of a lot to a heck of a lot of people."

"We lost only one home game but that night I was due to do a prize presentation at a pub with lots of fans there. It was the last thing I wanted, but the Rotherham supporters were absolutely brilliant and I saw what it all meant. It was huge for me as a person." Knill explained.

Knill plays down the praise that has been given by all and saundry, "I'm not one for getting pats on the back ... I just go to work and do my job the best I can, no different to anyone else,"

"I suppose my job is in the spotlight but, like anybody else, sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad. I just happen to be a manager dealing with 20 or so people at the training ground and others away from there." Knill says.

"I like working here, the people here have done everything they possibly can for me and I'm more than happy. In the future ... well, I don't know, I'm a novice but, of course, as you get more experienced you want to test yourself - that's how to improve."