Josh Vickers poised for Rotherham United goodbye

GOALKEEPER Josh Vickers is set for a Rotherham United exit after spending two and a half years with the club.

The out-of-contract 27-year-old has been offered the chance to extend his stay with the Millers but it is believed he has decided his future lies elsewhere.

The former Lincoln City stopper has been kept out of the starting 11 by the superlative form of Viktor Johansson and hasn’t accepted the new deal on offer to him at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

He is good enough to be a number one in his own right and knows he will receive more game-time with another side.

Vickers came to Rotherham in November 2020 and excelled in his 30 appearances. He shared the keeper’s jersey with Johansson in last season’s League One promotion push but was restricted to just three outings in the Championship this year.

Rotherham have released third-choice goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey because of the progress of teenager Nat Ford in the youth ranks.

Ford has signed his first pro deal and will be part of the first-team environment at the club’s Roundwood headquarters next season.

“Financially, we can’t stockpile players,” manager Matt Taylor said. “Nat is coming through and has impressed us. He’s trained with us for the last few months and he fits that bill as a third keeper. He’ll provide great cover in terms of training.”

The Rotherham-born 18-year-old, the son of former Millers goalkeeper Stuart Ford, is likely to go out on loan to a non-league team but will still be based at Roundwood.

There has been no official word from the club on Vickers’ expected departure but Taylor this week described the goalkeeping department for next season as “Viktor, A. N. Other and Nat”.