How Rotherham United eventually got the signature of Duncan Watmore
ROTHERHAM United played a waiting game to land former Premier League attacker Duncan Watmore in the final hours of deadline day earlier this week.
The 31-year-old was a free agent and was hoping to find a Championship club after playing for Middlesbrough and Millwall in that division.
He politely rejected initial interest from the League One Millers but came to the negotiating table towards the close of the new-year transfer window when he'd not been able to find a home with any second-tier team.
“To be fair to Duncan, he wanted to play in the Championship, which I can't blame him for,” Rotherham manager Matt Hamshaw said. “He's held on and held on.
“Obviously, one or two things have kind of gone past him. Look, he wants to play at his highest possible level. That's a great attitude to have.
“It wasn't ever like me pestering Duncan all the time. We'd had one conversation early on. He told me: ‘Look, I want to try to play in the Championship.’ I said: ‘Fair play, if anything changes, let me know.’
“The stars kind of aligned and it ended up that we could get him over the line, which I'm pleased with.”
On Monday, Watmore, who began his career in the top flight with Sunderland, signed a contract until the end of the season and could be in the squad for Saturday's home clash with leaders Cardiff City.
He had been without a club since leaving Millwall at the end of last season and had recently trained with Stockport County and had a trial with Sheffield Wednesday.
Hamshaw believes that a player of undoubted ability but a chequered fitness record will be a big influence on his new teammates who are fighting to escape the drop zone and are unbeaten in their last three matches.
“Duncan will help everybody along in the changing room,” the boss said. “He's proven at levels above League One.”