Rotherham United striker Kyle Vassell has joined Fleetwood Town on loan until the end of the 2020/21 campaign, subject to EFL and FA ratification.
Vassell links up with the Sky Bet League One outfit ahead of the weekend having turned out 14 times for Paul Warne’s men in all competitions so far this season, with 12 of those appearances coming in the Sky Bet Championship.
The 27-year-old joined the Millers in 2018 following a spell with Blackpool and returns to the Fylde Coast, this time penning a temporary agreement with the Cod Army.
The Milton Keynes-born forward played a key role as the Millers were promoted from the third tier last term and has turned out 63 times in all, in Rotherham United colours.
Millers boss Paul Warne explained that the bond between manager and player has allowed the pair to be candid with their intentions, adding that with Vassell set to be out of contract in the summer, the duo felt that the association had run its course.
"With Vass, I've had a really good relationship with him,” Warne explained.
"I think we can both admit that we're really close and we might have just come to the natural end.
"He always wants to play every minute and wants to be the 'number nine', which is absolutely fair enough.
"I just couldn't guarantee him that.
"I don't like any of my players leaving if I'm truly honest, but Vass has played a big part in these last three years and he goes with my blessing.”
Speaking on Vassell’s contract situation, the Millers boss added that it looked unlikely that he would be offered fresh terms upon the expiration of his current deal in the summer, meaning that the loan opportunity at Fleetwood will give the forward the chance to put himself ‘in the shop window’.
"He's out of contract in the summer and I don't think that would have been one that we'd have renewed,” Warne explained.
"It makes sense for him to go out there, put himself in the shop window and carry on his career.
"You could argue from a managerial point of view that I could tell him he's got to stay here and do me a favour, but once the player's heart is set on going and trying to secure himself a future, who am I to stop that?
"If I did keep him after that, would I have the same Kyle Vassell - no I wouldn't."
Everyone at the club would like to wish Kyle all the best during his loan spell with Fleetwood Town and thank him for his contribution in a Rotherham United shirt.