Paul Warne talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Rotherham United manager Paul Warne says his squad still have plenty to play for ahead of the Easter weekend double header against Birmingham City and Reading.The Millers boss admits that he is yet to reach a decision on a number of players in his side whose contracts are set to expire this summer, but insists he is prepared to be impressed between now and the final game of the season as he nears a conclusion in his mind as to which players will be offered new deals.
However, whilst Warne is keen to see his players prove their worth in the remainder of the 2016/17 campaign, he was quick to add that they have not struggled to be motivated, despite relegation to League One already confirmed.
“There are a few players here, in contract and out of contract, who have an opportunity to really put a marker down and say, you might have considered this, but I'm playing like this,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
“I don't think they've downed tools and I think the performance last week at Wigan showed that they are still determined to get some points on the board for the club.
“I quite like that it's left open-ended and they have something to prove. If there are players that are outstanding in the remaining games, there might be a shift in thought process.”
Warne continued to acknowledge the strains of contract situations from his time as a player, but believes the players will be under no illusions as to how important the remaining games are, no matter where their futures lie.
“I know myself when my contracts were running out it becomes a real tense time,” he explained.
“I've said this a few times already, but there are some that will be trying to earn a new contract here. Others who are in contract will be trying to really cement their place in the staff's positive way of thinking about them for next season, so they'll want to end the season well.
“There will be players here who think that they could potentially stay in the Championship with another club, so there's a lot of reason to play but there has never been a problem motivating this group.”
The Millers boss finished by explaining that he plans on sitting down to have the official conversations about new contracts nearer the finale of the 2016/17 campaign, but has touched on the matter with a couple of his players already.
“I have had a conversation with a couple of the players and a few I haven't spoken to yet,” Warne added.
“We still have a lot of games to go, so ideally I'd do that at the end of the season. I think we have a good, open relationship with the players but I also understand the pressures and strains that they're under."