Rotherham boss Steve Evans concedes defeat over duo

Rotherham boss Steve Evans concedes defeat over duo

Rotherham boss Steve Evans has failed in an audacious double swoop for Watford duo Lewis McGugan and Lloyd Dyer.

The Millers have already made 15 signings this summer and are operating with a squad of 26 first-team players, but Evans is still on the look out for more additions and targeted the Hornets duo.

McGugan has made three appearances for Beppe Sannino's team this season while Dyer, who scored against the Millers in a 2-0 win earlier this month, has featured five times, but both players could be part of a reported dressing room split at Vicarage Road.

However, Evans was told that a deal was not on the cards and will now turn his attention elsewhere ahead of Saturday's clash with Brentford.

"There may be nobody in before Saturday, but one phone call makes that different, doesn't it?" he said.

"We're trying to ascertain values of certain players. We're trying to bring in some quality. We made an enquiry about a couple of the lads down at Watford, Lloyd Dyer and Lewis McGugan, and that's not going to go anywhere.

"But that's the type of player we're trying to get in. We'll keep knocking on different doors. We'll see where that lands and if we get told no we'll go away politely. We've not hidden the fact that we need a bit of experience at this level."

With the amount of new arrivals at New York over the summer, it seems inevitable that some players will be heading the other way and Evans admits the club are considering allowing some players to leave.

"We've had calls about players in the team, we've had calls from other clubs who are down the pyramid from us about players who are not in our team but are part of our squad," he added. "We're considering those requests.

"Whether we do something about them remains to be seen. There will certainly be none of our main group going out of the door, that's for sure.

"Whether it's loan or whether it's permanent, we have to work out in our heads with the management team whether the player is genuinely a second option to be in the team, a third option. The minute you go beyond the third option, you have a responsibility to that player to highlight it to him and tell him what you're thinking and perhaps give him the option to move.

"But none of the main group will be going."