Hill casts envious glance at Rovers’ high-profile recruits

BARNSLEY manager Keith Hill is unlikely to bump into Doncaster’s Dean Saunders when strolling down the aisles of the loan market.

Only a few weeks ago, the two clubs were shopping for exactly the same sort of players but that has all changed now.

Rovers have gone up in the world after striking a deal with agent Willie McKay and Hill has mixed views about their new policy of signing big-name players on short-term deals.

However, speaking ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Oakwell, Hill confessed that he wouldn’t mind having a similar option.

“You can get caught between the devil and the deep blue sea in football,” he said. “You can recruit very good ‘name players’ but, if it goes wrong, you can end up in a situation where it’s very unlikely that you can ever re-establish yourself again.

“I don’t know how relevant it would be for me? I’ve never done it before and I place a massive value in trying to develop a squad and players. That’s the way I like doing it. But if it was affordable for me to sign one or two, three or four, players of established quality that can improve us as a team – not for the short term, but for the long term – it’s something I would definitely consider doing.”

Rovers have struck deals with new signings which mean they only have to pay a fraction of their normal wages. In return, they are providing a ‘shop window’ to players who hope to find bigger clubs in the New Year transfer window.

The biggest capture has undoubtedly been striker El-Hadji Diouf, the former African Player of the Year whose previous clubs include Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers and Rangers

“On his day, Diouf is quality. I live in Bolton so I have witnessed it,” Hill said. “No matter how controversial, he is productive and can be a star for Doncaster but hopefully not this Saturday.

“Everyone is chasing the dream and I suppose Doncaster are chasing the dream by recruiting name players. Established stars. But what we are trying to do is develop our own stars as saleable assets. Spending in football is like the economy and it’s not right,” he added. “Somewhere it will fall out in the same way it has done in Italy and Greece.”

Hill confirmed that he is still looking for two new loan players, including a striker, but also admitted that he is unlikely to complete anything before tomorrow’s game.

“I am not in a rush for this weekend but I do feel we need two more players,” he said. “I definitely want another striker – I don’t think you can have enough strikers to create competition for places. I need the opportunity to be able to change things, That’s where a squad is valuable when the games are coming thick and fast.”

Rovers are currently bottom of the Championship table but can move within three points of 19th-placed Barnsley if they win at Oakwell.

“You are always taking stock of what you want to achieve and where you are in the foodchain,” reflected Hill. “We are probably where we should be – but we want to try and over-achieve this season and to do that we have to be competitive. “Our main priority, whether playing Doncaster or West Ham, is to retain our Championship status but if we just brush up on a few things, we are a very good side in this division.”

Midfielder Cameron Park is now back at parent club Middlesbrough after completing a three-month spell on loan with the Tykes. He made just three appearances and struggled with illness.

Tykes defender Kern Miller is training with Hereford United after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley.

The Tykes will be without striker Andy Gray and on-loan midfielder Danny Drinkwater tomorrow as both are serving one-game bans. Winger Jim O’Brien is available after serving a one-game ban and Bobby Hassell, Danny Haynes, Goran Lovre and Reuben Noble-Lazarus also come back into contention after recovering from injuries.

Never short of an opinion on most subjects, Hill added his voice yesterday to criticism of Sepp Blatter.

The FIFA president has caused a storm by insisting football does not have a problem with racism.

Hill said: “He has put his foot in his mouth and he’s prone to doing that. You can’t sweep racism under the carpet in the way that he is doing. I don’t think he’s helping the issues and it was unfortunate to hear his comments.

“It’s a shame that such comments will set the game and the profession back.

“It is making it more and more difficult to make sure we encourage supporters to support the Kick Racism out of Football campaign,” he added. “His comments were a step backwards.”