Grabban’s Crawley move stalls to delight of Evans

The two clubs had agreed a fee for the South Yorkshire club’s top scorer but after travelling to West Sussex talks between Grabban and Crawley collapsed.

Manager Steve Evans said: “Lewis is a top class footballer and for that reason alone I’m delighted he remains a Rotherham United player.

”There has been significant interest in the player but to date only Crawley Town have agreed to meet the valuation I placed on the player on my arrival at the football club.

“Only Lewis himself or Crawley Town can turn the tap on which has in the last couple of hours been turned off.”

“In the event the player is with us next season, everyone at Rotherham United will be delighted.

“Part of the rational in the deal being agreed with Crawley was to allow the boy to move back south, but he has chosen to remain part of our family and that should please everyone who has the Millers at heart.”

One player on his way out at Rotherham is defender Michael Raynes, who has been released by Evans, who confirmed he is keen on bringing in Crawley Town’s out-of-contract goalkeeper Scott Shearer.

Former Wrexham goalkeeper Shearer, 31, last week turned down the offer of a new contract at newly-promoted Crawley.

“Scott is an outstanding goalkeeper,” said Steve Evans.

“He has a huge presence, his distribution is excellent and his kicking is a real asset but we are only one of a number of clubs in League One and Two who want to sign him.

“At the end of last season, my goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble said Scott would be his first choice new goalkeeper but I had to say to him the lad would in my opinion be staying at Crawley, but that has turned out not to be the case, that was a big surprise to me.

“I have now met Scott, showed him around the New York Stadium and of course the excellent training facilities.

“I have no doubt he was very impressed but he has a number of good clubs talking to him and I understand it is a big decision for him and his family.

“He has promised all the interested clubs that he will make a decision this week.

“He would be a great signing but I have a very good alternative in mind if he decides his future is elsewhere.

“I really thought the lad would stay where he was and obviously I hope my last 18 months with him will give us an edge but it’s football and you just never know,” he added.