It might be useful to understand a few home truths about the club that you have just committed 3 years of your life to. Please accept the following points as genuine offerings which I hope will ease your transition to life at NYS;
New York Stadium is a glowing oasis which will hopefully, in time, pump life back into a town which has seen better days.
Your average Millers' fan is a realist and accepts that we are cruising at an altitude which makes most of us air sick.
You work for a wise and genuine Chairman who is not, in the big picture, loaded. Until further sponsors are found, you will have to survive on a relatively small Championship budget.
Some Rotherham fans don't appreciate the above point and can't understand why we don't overstretch ourselves in search of Premier League glory. Past financial disasters have made us cautious and, in most peoples' minds, wiser.
Most Millers' fans are reasonable and will appreciate a team that works hard and loses but will not appreciate prima donnas who don't put in a shift.
Odd fans are unreasonable and you will meet/hear some the first time we go behind at home. Take no notice.
You have the core of a good squad that requires some pace at the back, some creativity in midfield and some fire power up front - good luck there.
Rotherham players react well to encouragement and feeling valued. Have a word with Neil Warnock.
If we're relegated next season, no-one will be surprised. If we avoid relegation you will have performed admirably. If we finish mid table you'll be offered freedom of the town. If we reach the play-offs, most fans will suffer major medical trauma.
Finally, we are a proud club. Proud of our smallness, proud that we sometimes kick the asses of the big boys and proud that we get under the skin of those in football who consider that we are not worthy.
Oh, and most importantly, most comment on football forums is drivel and should be ignored. If we knew anything, we'd be doing your job!
Welcome to South Yorkshire Alan and to Rotherham United. Whatever you do, don't apply the handbrake on the rollercoaster - it's frightening but it's great fun!!