It has required patience and persistence from the South Yorkshire club – 12 months ago Rotherham had their first promotion bid rejected after failing to meet the Premiership’s entry criteria – but finally they have the chance to mix it again with the big boys.

Rotherham have undergone detailed financial audits and worked tirelessly, often with the help of Rugby Football Union chief executive Sir Francis Baron, to ensure their case was watertight.

A decision had been expected last Thursday, but the board of ERL – a combined body made up of RFU and Premier Rugby representatives – was split five votes to five, straight down the middle.

The RFU backed Rotherham’s immediate promotion, but Premier Rugby were yet to be convinced the club had met the strict criteria, and wanted more “clarity” on the thorny issue of primary tenancy.

Although the likes of Wasps and Saracens share football grounds, the rules have since changed and Rotherham’s move to share Millmoor with the town’s first division soccer club was not enough.

Rotherham had to prove they could propose a suitable alternative venue in the case of a fixture clash at Millmoor.

They did so, naming Sheffield’s Don Valley stadium as the reserve choice, and once that was given the OK, Rotherham received the green light in the form of a brief statement from the ERL.

“The Board of England Rugby Ltd have confirmed today they have unanimously agreed that Rotherham rugby club have fully met the entry criteria and are therefore promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2003-04,” it read.

“The ERL board wish to congratulate Rotherham and wish the club a successful campaign next season.”

It was brief but welcomed with relief by the tireless Kilfoyle, who immediately put the last three weeks waiting behind him and promised to look forward to an exciting year ahead.

He told PA Sport: “Although we knew we had done everything right, everything possible, everything had gone by the book and we had tremendous help from Francis Baron – once that decision was made it was like a weight lifted from our shoulders.

“All we have been doing was waiting really. There was nothing else we could do. We obviously wish it had been a bit smoother and could have been done a bit earlier, but that is water under the bridge now.

“We have unanimous backing from all sides of English rugby, we have fantastic support from all aspects of the game and all we can do now is look forward.

“We think the wait has been a bit unnecessary – but having to wait for a couple days or a couple of weeks is nothing compared to the fact we fought hard for two years to get back to the Premiership.”

Rotherham’s only season in the top flight came in 2000-2001. They finished bottom with just two wins and 12 points, 26 adrift of Harlequins above them.

But the club turned professional that season, and three years later they are a markedly improved outfit and were in a position to sign the likes of Jacob Raulini, a scrum-half who would have started the Super 12 for the Queensland Reds had he not opted for a move to Millmoor.

While they also boast the likes of England A centre Joe Ewens, Italian fly-half Ramiro Pez could not turn down the overtures of Leicester and has joined the Welford Road club on a three-year deal.

Kilfoyle must now turn his attention to strengthening a squad that can compete in the top flight, and the club have their eye on a few players, but spending the last three weeks in limbo has made negotiating any possible acquisitions impossible.

“Obviously we have (players in mind), but were not going to say anything now. Nothing until anything is signed, that’s the way we live our lives,” he said.

“We couldn’t really negotiate – players wanted answers and we couldn’t give them answers so everything has been held in abeyance until now.

“But now we can start moving towards it again. Life will get really busy now. There is no off-season for the likes of me, believe me!”