Shane Ferguson stays with Rotherham United but it's farewell to Wes Harding

The 31-year-old, who has nearly 60 caps for Northern Ireland, was coming to the end of his contract with Rotherham United but an option to extend it by 12 months has been taken up.

He joined the club in 2021 from Millwall and has since won a League One promotion and played his part in a successful Championship survival campaign.

The Millers released their retained list this afternoon and confirmed that defender Wes Harding is leaving after three years in South Yorkshire.

Talks over a new deal took place but no agreement was reached and the former Birmingham City man now becomes a free agent.

Rotherham remain in negotiations with attacker and top scorer Chiedozie Ogbene who is another player approaching the expiry of his present terms at New York.

Several teams are chasing the signature of the Republic of Ireland international who says he has yet to decide where his future lies.

News that long-serving captain Richard Wood is leaving had already been made public. Other players departing include young goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey.

Out-of-contract shot-stopper Josh Vickers is also holding discussions about staying on but may opt to leave as his path to the first team is blocked by Viktor Johansson.

Manager Matt Taylor confirmed last week that centre-back Sean Morrison, who signed a short-term contract in January and played only two matches before suffering a thigh injury, is being made a new offer. Talks are also taking place with defenders Lee Peltier and Tyler Blackett whose deals are up.

This boss, who expects to make a number of summer signings as he bids to build on Rotherham’s second-tier survival, has said the names of some under-contract players who are falling further down the pecking order are being circulated to other clubs. 

He hasn’t named names but it would be a surprise if they didn’t include striker Tom Eaves and defenders Jake Hull, Jamie McCart, Tolaji Bola and Peter Kioso.

The Millers have taken up their 12-month option on midfielder Ben Wiles.

Loanees Grant Hall, Tariqe Fosu, Conor Coventry, Bailey Wright, Domingos Quina and Leo Hjelde have left New York following the expiry of their spells.

Hall and Fosu are at the end of their contracts at parent clubs Middlesbrough and Brentford respectively while Coventry (West Ham United), Bailey Wright (Sunderland),  Quina (Watford) and Hjelde (Leeds United) still have time on their deals.

Taylor is an admirer of Hall and may make a move to sign him permanently despite the centre-half’s chequered fitness record.

Meanwhile, Rotherham will play a pre-season friendly at League Two Mansfield Town on Saturday, July 22 (kick-off 3pm).