 Tamworth missed out on promotion to the Football Conference on the final day of 2001–02, finishing second in the Southern League Premier Division, two points behind the title winners Kettering Town.He played often for Tamworth this season, making 30 appearances.Mills left the club on 23 May 2002 to become first-team coach and reserve-team manager at First Division club Coventry City, as part of the management team of Gary McAllister and Eric Black.