Championship survival comes at a personal cost to Rotherham United manager Matt Taylor as his family suffer in the background

THREE little words hit home for Matt Taylor as the temperature was reaching boiling point in Rotherham United’s fight for their Championship lives.

He’d spent time with missus Sarah and eight-month-old son Darragh virtually every day during the run-in that would decide the Millers’ fate.

Yet he knew that in many ways he’d become an absent husband and dad.

The Millers had just sealed their survival by on the first day of May at a packed AESSEAL New York Stadium and their manager was reflecting on the price that those closest to him had had to pay.

“I won’t forget this: my wife sent me a message the other day when she was out for a walk,” he revealed. “She just said: ‘We miss you’, her and my little lad.

“It struck a chord with me because I’ve been there — I’ve not been away on holiday or anything, I’ve been there constantly — but the situation takes its toll.

“It’s easier for me because I can actually affect things. Your family are in a more difficult position because they can’t. They still see what’s happening. They’re like supporters: they go through the pain of last-minute goals and injuries going against you.”

Taylor was the picture of contentment on the lap of appreciation he shared with Sarah, Darragh and mother and father Lynn and David following the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Later, the sense of release was still easing from him as he chatted in the media suite, a touch softer in his demeanour than usual after the completion of a hard, hard mission.

“Drained, run-down, on the edge ...” The boss was describing the state of his mind and body during the previous few weeks as Rotherham had edged towards safety without being quite able to manage the final few steps.

“It’s just the feeling of ‘What’s next?’ I’ve never been afraid of it; the only thing I’ve been ever been afraid of in my life is failing and I was sure we weren’t going to do that.

“But the closer it gets to the end and the more results you have like those we’ve had recently where last-minute goals cost you, you do worry. It’s like something daunting is hanging over you and you can’t avoid it.”

Taylor’s thoughts kept returning to the suffering of people he cared about: “You don’t realise what the pressure on yourself does to your loved ones. You’re in their company but you’re not ‘there’.

“It sounds ludicrous because you have to be there when your kid’s crawling around. But I wasn’t fully engaged because I knew what was coming at work.”

He reflected on his number two living away from his south-west-based family for seven months after the pair left Exeter City to make the 285-mile move to the Millers in October: “Since Wayne Carlisle’s rental’s been up on his property up here he’s been staying at my house.”

Rotherham’s offer had caused huge upheaval. Taylor was happy with the Grecians whom he’d just led into League One after four years in charge, he and Sarah were settled in the area, they were on a new journey as first-time parents.

But the lure of the Championship was too strong to resist.

By his own admission, Taylor isn’t an emotional man. He doesn’t open up too much but then sometimes disarms you by revealing more of himself than you were expecting.

“My wife, whether she wanted to move or not with a six-week-old baby, supported me through that decision without questioning it for an instant,” he said. “I needed that at the time. We’ve been stronger together because of it.”

Manager will now became family man, at least for a while. “Sarah and the little man deserve my time,” he said. “I’ve got to make sure I’m a better husband and a better father for the next few weeks.”

The Millers hadn’t retained their second-tier since 2016 and Taylor knew it was important staff and players celebrated their achievement.

“We’ve been through difficult times together this season,” he said. “The late losses we’ve had, all the injuries ... things have gone against us at times. To get to 49 points and do it with a game left, I’m so proud to be associated with that.

“There was relief and joy. It was lovely seeing people smile, seeing the stadium the way it was. It was a memorable time.”

Yet a couple of days later he confessed he’d played no part in the partying.

“I left everyone to it and went for a meal with my parents and wife,” he said. “There were constant messages and phone calls but I was a little bit worn out. I was in bed my ten o’clock, shattered.”

Meanwhile, the post-match photograph of the beaming Taylor clan on the pitch together was one of the most memorable images of a great New York day, of a great Millers season. The manager was proudly holding his son in his arms and right by his side was Sarah.

A wife no longer missing her husband.