Rotherham and Moore part company

Manager Ronnie Moore has parted company with Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Rotherham by mutual consent.

Moore and the club's board of directors failed to agree on a severance package on Friday but have now reached an agreement, bringing his time at Millmoor to an end.

Chairman Peter Ruchniewicz said: "We have agreed an amicable parting of the ways.

"We are all relieved that we have patched up our differences - it would have been awful to have parted on a sour note."

Moore's departure from the South Yorkshire club is likely to have been influenced by Rotherham's poor form in the Championship.

The Millers are currently 12 points adrift of safety, having registered just three league wins this campaign, and seem destined to be playing in League One next season.

Moore said: "It was always going to be an enormous wrench leaving Rotherham United - a club where I have achieved so much success, both as a player and a manager.

"The Millers will always have a place in my heart. I agree, however, that it is in the best interests of the club to make a change now.

"The club has a good set of lads and I wish them well in the fight against relegation which they are more than capable of avoiding.

"The new board have got a tough task ahead and I wish them and all the club's supporters, who have shown me such loyalty over the years, the very best of luck for the future."

The Championship side will unveil the club's new temporary management team in a press conference this afternoon.

Moore, who was 52 on Saturday, replaced Danny Bergara as United manager in May 1997 following the club's relegation to the old Third Division.

He also enjoyed three profitable years in his playing days at Millmoor, scoring 52 goals in 125 appearances between August 1980 and September 1983.

After steering Rotherham to a play-off place during his second season at the helm, Moore went on to lead the unfashionable Yorkshire outfit to back-to-back promotions and a place in the top flight of the Football League in, where they have stayed - on a shoestring budget - for the last four seasons.

However, injury and a loss of form has hit Rotherham's small squad hard this time around - major factors behind the board of directors' decision not to extend Moore's contract, which was due to expire in the summer.

Rotherham were taken over by Millers '05 Ltd, a supporters-led group, two days before Christmas after they acquired 86% shareholding of former chairman Ken Booth who is now honorary life president.

Although the new board were locked in talks with Moore over the last fortnight, negotiations collapsed after the former Tranmere boss rejected the club's initial compensation package on Friday.

However, a deal has now been reached and Moore must now look for employment elsewhere.

Ruchniewicz added: "On behalf of the club and all of its supporters, the board wishes to express its appreciation at Ronnie's enormous achievements in gaining successive promotions to the Championship and retaining that status for so long against all the odds.

"We have every confidence that Ronnie will soon be given the opportunity to pursue his career with another club and we wish him every success for the future."