Rotherham boss Paul Warne admits it will be surreal to take on Shrewsbury's Paul Hurst
Rotherham boss Paul Warne stresses old team-mate and friend Paul Hurst is not ‘the enemy’ and that going head-to-head with the Town boss will be ‘surreal’.
The two former Rotherham team-mates face off at Wembley tomorrow both desperate to guide their sides back to the Championship.
It would be an instant return for the Millers, whereas Shrewsbury are aiming for a second tier spot for the first time since 1989.
Former left-back Hurst was with Rotherham between 1993 and 2008, where he played alongside Warne – who at times played on the left of midfield – between 1999 and 2005.
The pair won back-to-back promotions from the fourth tier to the second tier between 1999 and 2001.
“I don’t regard Hursty as the enemy so it’s a bit weird,” said Warne, whose assistant Richie Barker and goalkeeper coach Mike Pollitt also played alongside the duo.
“I spoke to him on the phone yesterday. It’s a bit surreal because we played 200 games together.
!To all of a sudden be managing against each other at Wembley is surreal.”
Warne, who took charge midway through the Millers’ disastrous Championship relegation last season, has told his players to believe in themselves ahead of the Wembley clash.
“We have to get it across to the lads that they’re playing a good team, but that they are a good team to,” he added.
“We have to pick a team that is there to win the game, but stops them from winning the game.
“They are a very good team. It’s nice that third and fourth play each other at Wembley.”
