Alex Bruce targeting more Rotherham United recruitment while he can

Alex Bruce will continue to push for more summer recruitment for Rotherham United until word comes down from above that no more money is available.

The new head coach has brought in nine new players since his late-June arrival and believes more are required to make the Millers a fighting force in League Two following last season's relegation.

How much more business is done will depend on the amount of spending sanctioned by chairman Tony Stewart.

The 2026/26 campaign kicks off with this weekend's AESSEAL New York Stadium Carabao Cup clash against West Bromwich Albion and Bruce said: "I still think I need a few more bodies. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that.

"When you look at the amount of people we've got around the first-team squad, I would ideally like a couple more."

So far, Rotherham have signed eight free agents and a loan player in Sheffield United's Jili Buyabu.

"We have to respect budgets and where we're at in terms of finances," Bruce said. "I will be told soon, I'm sure: 'The tap's off, that's your lot.' But at the minute, I haven't been told that, so I'll just try to keep rattling the cage."

The latest arrival is experienced striker Tom Bradshaw who trained with his new teammates for the first time today.

"He's got an infectious way about him," said Bruce. "He's a good lad. He's played at a higher level for most of his career. He's always scored at New York Stadium, so he tells me. I hope he keeps doing that now he's in a red-and-white shirt! He's another good character and I'm looking forward to working with him."

His presence will give the Millers the chance to pair him with another fresh face in Paul Mullin, but the head coach was coy when asked if that would be the way forward once the duo are up to speed.

"I'm not going to give too much away," Bruce said. If I said they're going to play as a two, then it would be pretty obvious what formation we're going to play. I'm flexible. I can do a few different things at the minute.

"We haven't got a lot of numbers. However, when you look at the bodies that we've got, they can cover a couple of different formations, which we will try to utilise.

"Certain individuals who've come into the squad, I have to manage them a little bit, because they've not done a pre-season. I have to manage their minutes. The one thing we don't want to do is throw people straight in at the deep end and get them injured."

The boss plans to field his strongest possible side against the Championship Baggies, who are set to bring a bumper following to S60, but some players' lack of match fitness means it will be a little while yet before his first-choice team is on the pitch.

"I'd like to think I've got a pretty solid idea of what my best 11 is," he said. "But what I have to take into consideration as well is where certain individuals are at.

"On Saturday, it'll be the best team I feel I've got available. There's a couple of positions where there's not much in it between certain individuals. That's what having a good squad is about."