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Gillingham manager Steve Evans is preparing to face another of his former teams on Saturday.
Just a fortnight after coming up against Peterborough, he comes face-to-face with Rotherham United at Priestfield.
Evans spent three-and-a-half years with the Millers, enjoying back-to-back promotions from League 2 into the Championship.
His former chairman at Rotherham, Tony Stewart OBE, is a friend for life but Evans admits they won’t be talking in the build-up to the clash.
He said: “I used to say he was like a dad to me and he used to say he was like a brother.
“I want to win, he wants to win and we won’t speak. He won’t say good luck like he usually does and I won’t say the same.
More on the Gills;
“We will both accept whatever happens at 5pm and I am sure we will be texting each other again that night. They are a great club, with great people.”
Evans’ Rotherham finished second to the Gills in the 2012/13 League 2 title race and won promotion via the play-offs the next season. Having established the club in the Championship, Evans joined Leeds.
He said: “There is a saying up in South Yorkshire, once a Miller, always a Miller and that applies to me and Paul Raynor (his assistant manager).
“We take great pride in all of the clubs were have managed but this is a bit more special because of the three-and-a-half years of unprecedented success we had, backed by Tony Stewart and his magnificent family.”
Evans hopes to enjoy similar success at the Gills and draws parallels between the clubs.
“The fan base is similar,” said the Gills boss. “They just want their team to compete.”
Evans consulted with Mr Stewart when considering which job to take this summer. He was already being tempted with the Gills offer and his old boss helped firm up his decision.
Evans said: “I had three opportunities. Some had loftier ambitions backed by loftier budgets. I put the scenarios to Tony Stewart over dinner and he said, ‘I see my club and Gillingham as being very similar with real hard-working people and they want value for money’.
“He said his two pennies’ worth and that he could see me doing very well. I was on the verge of saying yes to Gillingham anyway, but that was someone who was a friend of mine and has always given me the best and most impartial advice that he could.”
In charge of Saturday’s visitors is Evans’ former fitness coach at Rotherham, Paul Warne.
Evans added: “We had a brilliant management team and Paul played a big, big part in our success. It takes a team, it doesn’t take a manager.”
