Rotherham United: Paul Warne rules out handing a deal to free agent

Rotherham manager, Paul Warne during the FA Cup, second round match at Damson Park, Solihull. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday December 2, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Solihull. Photo credit should read: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications

The Millers had been in dialogue with the former Sheffield Wednesday winger over a possible short-term deal, but that has fallen through.

Warne was keen to see Marshall, who has been without a club since leaving Norwich in the summer, in training, but the player was in no rush. The Millers have ended their interest as a result.

“I don't foresee it happening,” Warne said of a possible deal.

“I had contact with him. I went and met him and his agent.

“We thought he was going to come in but at this moment it's not something he wants to do. That won't be revisited any time soon.”

Rotherham sit top of League One ahead of this weekend's visit of Bristol Rovers and the boss said he would be happy if there were no more incomings or outgoings in January.

Kyle Vassell has been one of the stars for Warne, with four goals in four games, and that might have made him a target for other clubs in January.

Vassell was understood to be close to joining League Two Salford in the summer and Warne was concerned at the prospect of them coming back this month.

But he insists none of his squad are for sale.

“I was expecting a fight to keep him prior to the month starting,” Warne told the Star. “Everyone is after strikers all of the time and we have had people sniff around Kyle before.

“Freddie (Ladapo) hasn't started the last two so there is probably more chance of them sniffing around him.

“But none of them are for sale, we don't need the money, we don't need the players to leave.

“However, if it is the player's complete desire to go then it is a conversation we would have to have.

“I can't see anything happening. If you go after a player from the top of the league it would have to be some offer to stop our promotion plan and nick our player and turn our chairman's head.

“I can't see anything happening, but I have said that before.”

The Millers are likely to be without Joe Mattock against Rovers as he has a back injury.

Adam Thompson (ban), Clark Robertson (groin) and Billy Jones (hamstring) remain out.