Keeper links up with Millers

As promised by manager Steve Evans, the Millers have moved quickly for their targets, with initial signings Daniel Nardiello and Kayode Odejayi joined this week by defender Nicky Hunt from Preston North End and Ian Sharps, making his return to the club from Shrewsbury.

Shearer (31) is well known to Evans having worked with him for 18 months at Crawley and was the first-choice of the manager and goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble.

Like Sharps, Shearer is fresh from a promotion-winning campaign and has turned down a contract offer from his employers to stay in League Two, underlining the extra pull Rotherham are having as they prepare to move to the New York Stadium. He has signed a two-year contract.

Evans told the Advertiser: "Scott was talking to two or three clubs from League One and even on Wednesday I thought the chances of getting him were only 50/50, so we are delighted to have won the race.

"I originally signed Scott from Wrexham and he was a major reason behind Crawley's two promotions. He has some outstanding attributes, his kicking and distribution is excellent, he has a huge presence and he's a winner."

Evans said he was now looking at "three, four or maybe five" more new faces to complete his squad jigsaw.