Hunger and ambition important for Millers

ROTHERHAM United have made it clear they are in the market for hungry players, not fading forces, this summer.
Richie Barker, pictured here with Paul Warne, wants players with something to prove.Richie Barker, pictured here with Paul Warne, wants players with something to prove.
Richie Barker, pictured here with Paul Warne, wants players with something to prove.

The club, regrouping after relegation from the Championship, has drawn up an extensive wish list of players they believe can flourish in League One and conversations have taken place.

Paul Warne and his coaching staff have spread the net wide as far as non-league to find emerging talents and Millers chief Paul Warne and coach Matt Hamshaw were at Wembley last week to take in the National League play-off final between Forest Green and Tranmere Rovers.

Assistant manager Richie Barker told the Advertiser: "We need to make sure if someone out there who is capable of stepping up then we know about them and if I'm honest, I think we do. We have good knowledge of the leagues below us.

"We are looking for hungry players who have something to prove and want to play at this level and get better and use us as a vehicle to improve their career, not ones who want to just come and top up their pension and see out their last couple of years."

Jonson Clarke-Harris: staying on for League One campaign.

Jerry Yates signed a deal yesterday taking him to 2020 while another striker, Jonson Clarke-Harris, has lengthened his stay at the New York Stadium by a further year.

Although the Millers are prepared to pay six-figure sums for two of their targets and will be armed with a competitive budget, Barker stresses that any deals have to make financial and footballing sense.

Barker added: "Having come down from the Championship, there has to be cuts because there is a fair financial difference from that division to League One in terms of gates and central monies so we have to cut out cloth accordingly.

"Our budget is one we want to make the best of to make a challenge in the top half of the table."

Catch today's Advertiser for the latest on the Danny Ward transfer situation and news of the Millers' three out-of-contract players.