Evans sacrificed loan signing rather than risk unsettling Millers’ squad over wages

The unnamed player had spoken to Rotherham earlier this week, with chairman Tony Stewart willing to meet his financial demands.

But Evans decided to end his interest, viewing the terms as too excessive and not providing value for money.

Evans, who turned 52 yesterday and is hoping for a belated birthday present with three points at home to Middlesbrough tomorrow, said: “We are trying really, really hard to bring in one or two players. But it has got to be on wages we are happy to pay.

“There was one player in the last few days that I just thought was not offering value for money.

“Although the chairman might have been keen to see it go over the line, I was the one who said I am also keen to keep the dressing room right. That is why there’s a fantastic relationship between the head man and the manager.

“We have a structure under which we want to pay our players in the dressing room. We do not want to be paying out a lot more than we have as an average in that dressing room.

“The chairman respects why I made that call. But there may be times between now and the transfer window closing in terms of loan deals where I actually do believe somebody is worth that kind of money and I would not be frightened to ask. I do not for one minute think he would say no.”

Meanwhile, Evans has revealed it is unlikely that any squad players will leave on loan before the international break next month.