Steve Evans has shocked everyone by quitting the manager's job at Stevenage and taking up the post at Rotherham United.

The 61-year-old had been the subject of speculation about a return to the Millers in November when Matt Taylor was sacked.

However, follow Rotherham's relegation, and the sacking of Taylor's replacement Leam Richardson this morning, it emerged that there had been another, official approach to Boro.

And chairman Phil Wallace reluctantly agreed to allow Evans to leave once compensation had been sorted.

A statement from the Boro chairman said: "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.

“We are a totally different club from two years ago and we will start the recruitment process immediately for next season to give us the best chance of continuing to improve on and off the pitch.

“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”.

Assistant manager Paul Raynor will also leave the club with first-team coach Alex Revell taking charge for the remaining two fixtures, away to Oxford United on Friday and then Cheltenham Town on Friday.