Window of opportunity for Millers to recruit

STEVE EVANS is expecting a busy weekend off the pitch as well as on it for Rotherham United – and is plotting some early business in the emergency loan window, which opens tomorrow.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Sep 2012, 09:14 BST

Despite his best efforts to bolster his ranks on deadline day last Friday, the Millers boss drew a blank but is confident of incoming activity in the coming days.

One confirmed loan target is Bournemouth forward Matt Tubbs, with Evans having made no secret of his desire to reunite with the player who used to work under him at Crawley Town.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

While the Cherries rejected pre-deadline overtures from the Millers, Evans will certainly be interested in the 28-year-old if he becomes available.

On his bid to bring in some signings ahead of last weekend, he said: “We were still hoping at nine o’clock at night (last Friday) to do something. Whether it be terms, locations or sheer timing, we ran out of opportunities to do it.

“It certainly wasn’t for the want of trying and the chairman was fantastically supportive.

“We’ll be busy over the weekend. Not necessarily (getting someone in) for Saturday as we believe you have to be playing and training with the team to feature, unless you are really struggling.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s about adding quality. When I started using phrases like ‘continuous improvement programmes’, people thought I was working at ICI and not Rotherham United.

“But it’s true. Every day of every week, I have to look at games and players and opportunities to bring in certain players.

“I keep asking myself and staff as to whether they improve us and are they better players than ones we have got. When we identify those, I discuss it with (chief operating officer) Paul Douglas and the chairman and they look at the bigger picture of the budgets and the mix in the dressing room.

“We need to find ways of continually improving as that’s what others are doing.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Millers’ utility man Mark Bradley is out for four weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the JPT Trophy loss to York City.

But Nicky Hunt and Dale Tonge – who played 65 minutes for Millers reserves on Wednesday to continue their comebacks from injury – are available for tomorrow’s trip to Port Vale, along with new signing Craig Morgan.

Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Ricky Ravenhill is set for a reserve team outing with Port Vale next Wednesday as he hits the comeback trial following a knee injury.

Fellow midfielder Ritchie Jones, out with an ankle problem, is set to return to training next week.

Striker Nahki Wells (hip) is a doubt for tomorrow’s trip to 
Accrington.

Related topics:Steve EvansMillers