Steve Evans quits Stevenage and rejoins Rotherham United

The 61-year-old has left the Hertfordshire club with two games of the League One season to go.

He will now take charge of a Rotherham side who are preparing for a return to the third tier after Championship relegation.

Evans managed the Millers from 2012 to 2015 and replaces Leam Richardson, who was sacked earlier today along with his assistant, the former Barrow boss Rob Kelly.

Stevenage announced Evans' departure after confirming that an official approach had been made and compensation agreed.

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He leaves Boro ninth in League One, six points outside the play-off places but with goal difference making a top-six finish unlikely.

Stevenage are the best performing of all the four sides who came up from League Two last season, with Leyton Orient 10th, Northampton Town 11th and Carlisle relegated in 24th.

Evans' assistant Pail Raynor, right, has followed him to Rotherham (Image: Barbara Abbott)

Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace said in a statement: “It’s not what we wanted, but compensation clauses are in place for a reason and these things happen in football. 

“The approach was unexpected but handled in the right manner by both clubs and we told Steve that, after all he’d done for our club, we would not stand in his way if the compensation terms were met and he wanted to leave.

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“Steve will always be welcome at The Lamex as far as I’m concerned and it’s been a privilege to work with him for the last two years”.

Evans' assistant Paul Raynor is also leaving Stevenage to join Rotherham, while Stevenage have placed Alex Revell in caretaker charge.

Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart said he was "absolutely delighted" at Evans' return, adding: “Leam and Rob’s departure was not something we took lightly, but following extensive conversations at board level, it was unanimously agreed that a change of direction was needed to give us the best possible chance of bouncing back to the Sky Bet Championship at the first time of asking."

Rotherham also confirmed that Evans' return would "coincide with Rob Scott’s focus being concentrated in his area of expertise, where he will remain on the board as director of football recruitment."

Scott is a former Carlisle United player who was on loan with the Blues from Fulham in 1998.