Stubbs has confidence in current crop

Stubbs managed to secure the signature of 19-year-old centre back Dael Fry from Middlesbrough on a season long loan, making him the only incoming of the day.

But with free agents still able to sign and 12 signings made throughout the summer, Stubbs is more than happy with the squad he has got.

He told the Advertiser: “I have confidence in the group of players I have got, we are not the only club to have an indifferent start and a lot of others have spent a lot more money than us.

“It’s only down to us as a group of individuals to give the fans a reason to be optimistic and we’re determined to do that.

“It’s a long season – especially in the Championship – it’s not about now it’s about where you are at the end of the season and trying to progress the club forward.”

Stubbs also allowed defender Tom Thorpe and midfielder Richie Smallwood to leave the club on year long loans to Bolton and Scunthorpe respectively.

And although they were tough decisions – particularly in the case of fans' favourite Smallwood – Stubbs believes he had to be honest with the players and do what was best for all parties.

Stubbs said: “You have to be honest with players and make tough decisions.

“Richie wanted to play more minutes, I couldn’t guarantee him that.

“When Scunthorpe came in I had to be honest with him, it’s an important time for him with his contract up at the end of the season and he has to be playing.

“Richie wanted to play and we’ve got a lot of options in midfield. I had an honest chat with him and it’s just part of football.

“No-one likes to see players staying at a club and not playing any minutes and getting frustrated. The manager has to be honest and the player has to be honest with the manager, we had a good chat about it.

“Tom  also wasn’t getting as much playing time as he would have liked and there was an opportunity for him to go.”

The Millers now have time over the international break to work hard on the training pitch after last weekend’s 4-0 capitulation at rivals Barnsley.

Their next tie is at home to Bristol City on September 10 and Stubbs says both him and his players will be working hard on the training pitch to put things right.

He said: “I think we’ve got to be realistic, we’ve had a huge turn around in terms of numbers at the club since the summer, probably bigger than any other Championship club.

“That takes a bit of time, the only place you can put it right is on the training pitch.

“We’ll be working hard as a group of individuals to put that right.”

There’s much more from manager Alan Stubbs and chairman Tony Stewart in today’s Advertiser.