Rotherham United duo Jon Taylor and Joe Newell talk contracts

The pair are out of contract at the end of the season but are eying longer stays at AESSEAL New York Stadium.

Taylor has already met with manager Paul Warne, who is giving trials to a goalkeeper and a winger, while Newell says negotiations have yet to be begin.

Both are content to wait until the club's Championship fate is decided before final decisions are made.

"Me and the gaffer have had loads of talks," said record signing Taylor who signed from Peterborough United in 2016. "It's as simple as this: the gaffer knows that I want to stay and the gaffer wants to keep me."

Newell, who also arrived in South Yorkshire from Posh, said: "I'd be open to staying, of course I would. I said the same last year before the 12-month option was taken up.

"I've been here for four years now and I love it at Rotherham with all the lads.”

Joe Newell

Warne has already extended the contracts of midfielder Will Vaulks and Michael Ihiekwe by a year and says he is hoping to agree deals with two more members of his present squad before the campaign ends in May.

The third-from-bottom Millers, who have no match this weekend because of the international break, have eight games left to preserve their place in the second tier, starting at Derby County a week on Saturday.

Taylor, aged 26, said: "The main thing we have to focus on right now is keeping the team in the Championship. I'm not going to push the gaffer now about a new contract and he's not going to say to me: 'Jon, you need to sign this contract now.'

"If it comes down to waiting until the end of the season before sitting down to discuss a new contract, we're both completely fine with that.

"I'm a professional footballer and I'm being paid to keep this club in this division. I've got to do my job."

Newell, also 26, added: "To be honest, nothing has really been said. I'm in no rush to get anything over the line and neither are the club at the minute.

"We're trying to stay up. That comes first. I'm sure we will sit down and talk. It might be before the end of the season."

Scarbrough Athletic keeper Tommy Taylor, 26, and a French wide man have been training with Rotherham this week and appeared in the reserves' 1-1 draw at Port Vale on Wednesday. At least one of them could feature for the second string again at Grimsby Town next Tuesday.

The Millers' search for a new head of recruitment is approaching its end-game, with the shortlist now down to two and final interviews taking place late this week.

Meanwhile, Warne acknowledges that the club's chances of keeping some of their players beyond the summer could hinge on whether they win their battle to avoid the drop.

Vaulks, holding midfielder Semi Ajayi and attacker Ryan Williams are among those likely to have suitors.

"It all depends on whether we maintain our Championship status," the boss said. "I would like to think we can extend some of the contracts of the lads who are running low.

"But in fairness, if we were to be unsuccessful in our bid to stay up, I would imagine there would be some cherry-picking of our players.

"That happens at every club. If, say, Huddersfield Town go down from the Premier League, their best player might be picked up by, say, Crystal Palace. That is the nature of the beast.

"I would be amazed if we did not get some interest in some of our players in the summer because it has not been unusual for the best player in games this season to come from our team.

"We need to add players and I appreciate we will lose players."

This article appeared in Friday's Advertiser