By Ewan Bennie
BBC Sport in Rotherham |
It has been a year of pain and recriminations, but Rotherham are nearly back in the promised land of the Premiership - and this time they intend to stay for a while.
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A 21-9 win over promotion rivals Worcester at the Sixways stadium last Saturday gave them a six-point cushion with only two games remaining.
The club are not shouting from the rooftops just yet, but having lost only one game this season, there is an understandable air of confidence surrounding their Clifton Lane base.
Rotherham were in a similar position last year, only to find their hopes dashed at the last minute, when England Rugby Limited (ERL) decided that they did not meet the minimum entry criteria.
This year the RFU confirmed that the top National One side would be promoted to the Premiership, and Rotherham's ground, shared with the town's football side, has passed inspection.
All that remains is for the team to tie up the loose ends, and prepare for next season, a prospect coach Mike Schmid says the club are ready for.
"We have made a massive improvement in playing facilities on and off the pitch this year," he told Rugby Special.
"We'll need to take it forward another step if and when we reach the Premiership, as we let ourselves down last time we were up there.
"The Premiership is a big step up, but we showed in our recent cup match at Bristol that we have improved our game in every aspect."
Rotherham's 24-19 Powergen Cup win at Bristol in December 2002 was one of the highlights of a season marked by success on the field - and political wrangling off it.
An RFU enquiry set up to investigate last season's promotion fiasco ended with allegations circulating that Rotherham had received money to stay in Division One.
These have always been fiercely denied by the club, who feel they have been targeted when others who were responsible have escaped without punishment.
"We're not worried at all about the enquiry, we have nothing to hide," said Schmid.
| Rotherham's final games April 19: Orrell (a) April 26: Coventry (h) |
"The powers that be have been up here snooping around for what seems like ages - and I hope everything does come out."
Despite topping the table, the constant speculation and rumours have affected the team - and club captain Chris Johnson is less diplomatic about the enquiry.
"If making up stories is all people can do to keep us down then I think it is pitiful," he said.
"When it is finished and proved that we have done nothing wrong the people who spread these rumours should be punished."
Whatever the substance of the allegations, the odds are that neither they, nor the entry regulations will conspire this time to keep Rotherham down.
And Johnson, who lists Leicester and Northampton among his former clubs, believes this group of players have the experience and nous to stay up.
"This club has heart, spirit and a bit of rugby savvy," he said, "and now I think we can compete at the highest level.
"A lot of the clubs will lose players for the World Cup, while our squad will remain untouched.
"We've had three years' practice for the Premiership - in 2000 we were very raw - this time we are ready."
MMIX
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This club has heart, spirit and a bit of rugby savvy 
