MILLERS CLOSE TO NEW DEAL FOR NEWELL
ROTHERHAM are hopeful of tying Joe Newell down to a new contract before they embark on a potential League One play-off campaign.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Millers from Peterborough in August 2015, sees his current deal at the New York Stadium expire at the end of the season, though the club retain an option to extend that by 12 months.
Such an extension could prove academic, however, with Rotherham assistant manager Richie Barker confirming that he hopes winger Newell will put pen to paper in the coming weeks.
“I think we’re close. I don’t get involved in those conversations as much as I previously have, but I know the conversations have taken place and I know a deal is not a million miles away,” he said.
“Could it be done before any potential play-off campaign? I think if it’s going to get done, it will be done before then.
“I don’t see any reason why not. I don’t think there is a great deal of negotiations left to go on.
“I think it’s just a question of when can we sit down and do it.
“Obviously, coming up is the midweek game at Gillingham (on Tuesday). It means we’re away for two or three days, which may cause a bit of an issue.
“But, other than that, I can’t see it being a major problem.”
Newell has played a key role in establishing Paul Warne’s troops as the best of the rest in League One, behind runaway titlechasers Wigan, Blackburn and Shrewsbury.
The former Peterborough man scored his seventh goal of the season in the Millers’ 3-2 midweek victory over Fleetwood and has shone in the second half of the current campaign, finding the net four times since the turn of the year.