Rotherham United players delaying contract decisions

TYING players down to new contracts is proving a challenge for Rotherham United, with some members of the squad holding out to see which division the Millers will be in next season.
Paul Warne: Contract dealings.Paul Warne: Contract dealings.
Paul Warne: Contract dealings.

Last week, Rotherham started contract talks with four of their first-team regulars.

The Millers are not revealing the names involved in those discussions but offers have been made by the club with the players and their agents now considering them.

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Manager Paul Warne admitted the club’s position in the league table could mean nothing is agreed until the conclusion of the season.

“I think because of the position we are in, no player is overly keen to extend their stay here,” he admitted.

“I think if we were mid-table, the dealings would be a lot easier to do.

“But at the moment the players, understandably, are taking a lot longer to get back to the club.

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“Everything is a bit up in the air. That is the truth of it.

“I don’t think anything will be done at any point before the end of the season.”

Warne understands the position the soon-to-be out-of-contract players are in, with the Millers looking to climb out of the bottom three when they face Reading tomorrow.

Rotherham have two games in hand over the three sides immediately above and Warne feels there are up to eight teams who cannot yet guarantee they will be playing in the Championship next season.

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He added: “A lot of it is money driven but a lot of it is career driven as well. I think it is a bit of both.

“If you have had a really good season and are out of the contract in the summer and feel you can play in the Championship, would you sign a contract with a club who could potentially could go down?

“I can read between the lines and understand the lack of speed to get discussions going with player agents because of the situation we are in.

“The players are always going to back themselves to get contracts.

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“They all want to play in the Championship and at this moment in time there are probably about eight teams who can’t guarantee that and we are one of them.”

Meanwhile, Warne is hoping to welcome back Chiedozie Ogbene, Jamie Lindsay and Joe Mattock next month as Rotherham look to pull clear of the bottom three in the final third of the campaign.

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