ST HELENS coach Ian Millward has vowed to be back at the helm by the time York City Knights visit Knowsley Road tomorrow following his dramatic suspension yesterday.

The highly-successful Australian was mysteriously stripped of his duties yesterday by the club pending disciplinary proceedings and assistant Dave Rotheram put in charge until a hearing has taken place.

It is hardly the Powergen Challenge Cup holders best preparation for tomorrow night's fifth round tie against York.

But Knights head coach Mick Cook said: "Dave Rotheram is well-travelled and he knows the game so I am not sure this will have a massive impact on their preparations.

"It may cause a little unrest and unease but Dave Rotheram has been in the game for a long time since his apprenticeship with London Broncos and he's got a fair knowledge of the game so I would imagine he will prepare them just as Millward would have done."

A statement issued by Millward's Leeds-based solicitor, Richard Cramer, said: "I can confirm that Ian Millward has been suspended from his duties pending a disciplinary investigation to be held later this week.

"Ian is shocked and devastated and intends to vigorously contest the allegations.

"It is Ian's intention to co-operate fully with the disciplinary proceedings and to return to his duties in readiness for the Powergen Challenge Cup-tie against York."

St Helens chief executive Sean McGuire declined to elaborate on the reasons for the suspension for legal reasons.

McGuire said Millward, who has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, was suspended on full pay and insisted a hearing headed by club chairman Eamonn McManus would be held "as soon as possible".

McGuire said the allegations were "sufficiently serious" to impose the suspension but insisted there had been no offer to pay Millward up for the rest of his contract.

He also added that the timing had nothing to do with the standard of opposition faced tomorrow in National League Two York.

Millward has brought the Challenge Cup back to Knowsley Road twice since arriving six seasons ago and is keen to make it two-in-a-row if they can get past York tomorrow.

But any hopes of Knights fans that the off-the-field chaos will give them a chance in the one-sided tie were quashed by Rotheram.

The 36-year-old, who joined the club from London Broncos at the start of last season, has been placed in temporary charge and he insists it is business as usual.

He said: "The players were told of the news yesterday morning and they took it in their stride."

The 20-man squad released by the club also makes for fearful reading with all nine of the club's Great Britain players named, meaning at least six of them will be taking the field against National League Two Knights.

The list includes leading engage Super League try-scorer Darren Albert, who has already ran in 13 this season, and new GB skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

Sculthorpe backed move - Saints

ST HELENS insist it is business as usual as they prepare to continue their defence of the Powergen Challenge Cup against York City Knights tomorrow without controversial coach Ian Millward, who guided them to final triumphs in 2001 and 2004.

Saints stunned the rugby league world yesterday by suspending engage Super League's longest-serving coach on full pay pending a disciplinary hearing, just 48 hours before the club's fifth-round tie against York.

The mystery deepened when the club's chief executive Sean McGuire declined, for legal reasons, to divulge the reasons for Millward's suspension at a bizarre press conference at Knowsley Road which raised more questions than answers.

But McGuire insisted the shock move had the backing of skipper Paul Sculthorpe.

"We spoke individually to the club captain, who more than anyone stressed it's business as usual," said McGuire.

Updated: 10:59 Thursday, May 05, 2005