Rotherham United: Jackett looks for January transfer reward

New manager Kenny Jackett's preparation before he even joined Rotherham United could pay off for the Millers in the January transfer window.
Kenny JackettKenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett

Jackett left Championship rivals Wolves at the end of July and didn’t take the New York Stadium hot-set until October 21.

But he filled his time in between by watching matches and identifying potential signings he could make for his next employers.

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“I went to as many games as possible and when the windows come round you hope you’re educated in terms of the players you can sign,” he said. “Recruitment is a big key in management, and we have to get that right this time round.”

Jackett was offered the Millers job when Alan Stubbs was sacked after 13 league matches with the club bottom of the table and a number of players the Liverpudlian brought to South Yorkshire failing to make an impact.

“We need to strengthen in January,” Jackett added. “We need to complement and help the players that we have. The players here are trying very hard but they do need some help.

When the windows come around you have to be constructive with what you do and improve things.”

Richard WoodRichard Wood
Richard Wood
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Rotherham, who entertain Leeds United in front of the Sky cameras on Saturday evening are 11 points off a safety spot and have conceded 41 goals in 17 second-tier fixtures, the worst total in the division.

But captain Richard Wood has pledged their will be no surrender by him and his teammates.

“I will never give up. The lads won’t either,” the centre-half said. “We have got a new manager and he has been top drawer in training.

“We have just got to keep going. I don’t know what else I can say to fans. We are giving it our all.”

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“The boss has been very good so far. He’s been very direct with us. He’s put a lot of hard work in on the training ground to get the right set-up defensively.

“We have got to take it game by game. The next few games are massive for us going into December. It’s Leeds next week and then six games.”

After the Leeds clash, four of the Millers’ next six games are against sides in the bottom half of the table - Burton Albion twice, QPR and Wigan Athletic. The remaining two see them travel to Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham.

“We have to pick points up quickly and when it comes to January not be adrift,” said Wood, who has been standing in as skipper in place of injury victim Lee Frecklington. “That’s what I am looking at.

Richard WoodRichard Wood
Richard Wood
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“There are going to be some games where teams are just better than us. There are some top-quality teams. But it’s the games against the teams in the bottom half of the table that we need to pick up points from.”

Rotherham’s home game against Burton Albion on December 29 has been designated a ‘Friends for a Fiver’ fixture. Season-ticket-holders can take a friend to the match for only £5.

Millers supporter and World Cup Final referee Howard Webb will be signing copies of his autobiography, The Man in the Middle, at the Red and White Shop between 9:30am and 11am on Saturday December 17.