Jon Taylor, Ryan Williams and Richie Towell leaving Rotherham United

Out-of-contract wingers Jon Taylor and Ryan Williams have rejected new deals while there will be no return to AESSEAL New York Stadium for loan midfielder Richie Towell.

The Millers are still in negotiations with two other wide men whose contracts have come to an end, Joe Newell and Anthony Forde, and final decisions are imminent.

"Tayls and Willo have decided that their futures lie elsewhere," confirmed assistant manager Richie Barker. "We're no longer negotiating with them. There are no more contract talks planned."

The pair are thought to be seeking to remain in the Championship following Rotherham's relegation to League One.

Towell, whose deal with parent club Brighton & Hove Albion expires this summer, had talks in the January transfer with the Millers about a permanent move but that option is now off the table.

"Unless something drastically changes, Richie has decided that he's going to explore other opportunities," Barker said.

Ryan Williams

"The conversation in January didn't go the way everybody was hoping it would go. It was nobody's fault. The contract situation just couldn't be sorted at that particular time.

"The second half of the campaign didn't perhaps go as well for Richie as he would have liked, then we had the emergence of young Wilesy (Ben Wiles) and, towards the end of the season, Crooksy (Matt Crooks).

"With Semi (Ajayi) also playing in midfield as well, it limited Richie's opportunities. The season sort of fizzled out for him really and he's now free to explore whatever he wants to do."

Record signing Taylor has been with the Millers for three years, after a £500,000 switch from Peterborough United. Williams, who has just earned his first Australia call-up, arrived on a free transfer from Barnsley in 2017. Towell has spent the last two seasons on temporary deals in South Yorkshire.

All three were major performers in the 2017/18 League One promotion season and were regulars last term in the second tier.

The Millers, mindful of the need to recruit new wingers before their targets are snapped up by other clubs, expect the situation of Newell and Forde to be resolved very shortly.

"By the weekend, we will know about them," Barker said. "We've agreed that a final decision will be made between us by this weekend."

Richie Towell

Newell has been at New York since 2015 while Forde was the first signing of former boss Alan Stubbs a year later.

Barker paid tribute to Towell who came close to Republic of Ireland recognition during his time at New York.

"He's been a valuable part of the squad for the last two years," the Millers number two said.

"He will be fondly remembered even though, oddly enough, he was never actually our player.

"He played a big part for us in his two seasons. He was excellent in League One and proved at times in the Championship that he could play at that level."

Rotherham are making progress in their bid to bring in players, although there are no new arrivals on the immediate horizon.

“We have moved on quite well with two or three targets,” Barker said. “But they're now on holiday and won't be signing in the next few days.”