Rob Scott talks to www.themillers.co.uk...
Head of Talent ID Rob Scott admits Rotherham United may have to play the waiting game in their attempts to secure their top targets in the summer transfer window and has confirmed that the club have already tabled bids this close season.
Scott and newly-appointed Chief Scout Chris Trotter have had a heavy presence at AESSEAL New York Stadium and the club’s first team training ground at Roundwood, holding regular meetings and conversations with Paul Warne and his staff about prospective targets, as well as providing their expertise ahead of the submission of this season’s retained list.
Speaking to www.themillers.co.uk, Scott revealed that the Millers have made approaches for players both under contract at other clubs and those whose deals are set to expire, but admits that he is well-aware that movement throughout the leagues may not occur until further down the line.
“We're continuing to speak to agents and it is still quite early yet,” he explained.
“I know fans at every club across the country at the moment are wanting to have names and news of signings but at the moment it's more a case of jostling for position in terms of getting offers across to players.
“We have made a couple of offers to clubs. The Chairman has been open with us and told us that if there are players out there that we like and we can sign for a fee that is achievable then we can go for it.
“It is a bit of a slow process and it goes in cycles. Initially agents come onto clubs saying that their players are available, then it can go quiet before they come back with other ideas of where they're at financially before it goes quiet again when the players go on holiday.
“They quite often want to sit on any offers or interest and wait to see what else comes in and that is just the nature of the beast.”
The outcome of the aforementioned meetings between the recruitment team and Warne and his first team staff has provided the club with an extensive but ever-evolving list of targets and Scott has been pleased with the options the Millers have been presented with in the early stages of the summer window.
However, the former Watford scout is keen not to become too encouraged or disheartened should the club be rebuffed in their approaches to their current primary targets.
“Obviously it is far from as simple as us making a bid and signing a particular player because everybody wants the best players,” he continued.
“We're hoping that the offers that we have put in are somewhere along the right lines for those clubs, but then there are other influences like the players themselves and their agents.
“If the clubs don't think that our valuation matches theirs then they won't let them go, which is the same principal we will apply when it comes to potential interest in our players.
“It is a bit of cat and mouse at the moment but we do have a couple of offers out on players and we'll look to see where that goes over the next week or so.”
The club will await news on whether those discussing new terms at AESSEAL New York Stadium opt to remain ahead of the upcoming Sky Bet League One campaign, while talks continue with players and their representatives who may leave their current employers to seek a new challenge with Paul Warne’s side next term.
“We have plenty going on and there are lots of irons in the fire in terms of agents being spoken to and we've got a very good list for each position,” Scott added.
“We're hopeful over the next couple of weeks that we can announce a couple but in this game you can't ever take anything for granted that it's done until the paperwork is signed.
“Until it is, we'll keep trying to keep bright about it and let things run their course.”