Crawley made a last-ditch attempt to persuade Steve Evans to stay in charge, the new Rotherham manager has confirmed.
Evans was named as the Millers' replacement for Andy Scott at Don Valley on Monday when he opted to turn his back on Crawley's promotion campaign and end his five-year stay in Sussex.
"I went up to the owner's home and delivered what was a huge decision on Saturday," he said.
"Even on Monday morning when I set off to come up here they made a call to me on the M1 travelling and that tugs at the heart when you've had the success we have.
"They rang to say it wasn't too late. Nothing had been released, but press statements had been prepared.
"But there was nothing they could have said. This decision was never about money."
Evans believes the potential of Rotherham was the decisive factor in leaving Crawley.
With a new stadium on the way Evans wants to be at the heart of the Millers' future.
"I think first and foremost it was an extremely difficult decision," he said. "I left a very good football club to join something that could be an exceptional football club and a project under a chairman who continues invest a huge sum of money.
"Rotherham United are a Championship club but playing in League Two. They have a fantastic new stadium coming, with a great new training ground and overall the Ferrari was started and the key was in it ready to be driven.
"I am very very fortunate that the chairman has chosen me in front of a number of outstanding candidates who wanted to work for this football club."
© 2013 - British Sky Broadcasting Ltd