What Of The Players Who Left In The Summer?

Rotherham United let four players go at the end of last season – but a month into the new season how are they getting on?

Defender Wes Harding played over a hundred and forty games in a Rotherham shirt and two months after leaving the New York Stadium he joined fellow Championship side Millwall. He made his debut for the Lions in their Carabao Cup home loss to Reading with Wes coming off the bench on seventy-seven minutes when his side were already three down (it ended four-nil). Since then Wes has played in three league games each time coming off the bench.

The Millers also said ‘goodbye’ to Scottish Goalkeeper Robbie Hemfrey. Joining in September 2022 Robbie always knew he would be third in line but did manage to get half a game in April 2023 when he came off the bench for an injured Josh Vickers in a two-all draw with Burnley and was named ‘hero’ of the game with some of the saves/stops he made against the top of the league. Up to now Robbie is to find a new club.

Former Millers Manager’s son Mackenzie Warne was let go before the summer. Macka came through the youth ranks with the Millers managing one appearance which came in the five-nil win over a Manchester City U21 side in the Papa John’s Trophy in October 2021. In his Rotherham career Macka had loan spells with various teams. The central-midfielder has yet to find a new club.

Defender, Skipper, Caretaker Manager Richard Wood also left the club at the end of his contract. A nine year stay at the New York Stadium came to an end but less than a week after leaving he’d lined up a move to League Two side Doncaster Rovers. He was given the captain’s armband and has made six appearances, starting five of the games.

There were, of course, others that left one being goalkeeper Josh Vickers who rejected a new contract and moved to Derby County to team up with his former Millers Manager Paul Warne and Goalkeeping Coach Andy Warrington. He has played in two games for the Rams, the first being in the Carabao Cup loss to Blackpool and the second when he came off the bench just minutes into the second half last weekend when Joe Wildsmith was red carded.

Another playing thirty-seven games and scoring six times for Rotherham opting to join Derby was striker Conor Washington after it is said the ‘clubs came to ‘an undisclosed’ agreement’. Conor has made seven appearances for the Rams, four of those being starts, scoring once.

Another who turned down a new offer was Chieo Ogbene. After making just under one hundred league appearances for the Millers Chieo moved up the leagues to join newly promoted Luton Town in the top division. The Republic of Ireland international has made four appearances for the Hatters, no goals as yet, his only start coming in the Carabao Cup game at the end of August which they won three-two.

Ben Wiles was a late mover when he joined Huddersfield Town on 25th August for an undisclosed fee. Ben’s played just one game for Town since joining which was the full ninety last weekend.