Graham Turner exasperated after failed attempts to strengthen in time for Rotherham
Graham Turner admitted to feeling “disturbed and depressed” after his hunt for reinforcements this week bared no fruit despite a persistent push.
One permanent and one loan addition were set to join in time for the Millers clash with the former opting to join another club and the latter picking up a long term injury in training.
“It’s been almost like playing a match everyday where you’ve lost,” said Turner.
“The feeling each day when nothing has come to fruition has been a little bit disturbing and depressing. I would think supporters are getting a bit fed up of listening to reasons, excuses and lack of action, but believe me it’s not for want of trying.
“It’s desperately frustrating - I thought we were well down the line with one permanent signing. I went over to meet the lad half way between his home and here and everything seemed fine. His agent was quite happy with everything and we’d even got the contract typed out, but he’s gone somewhere else. The following morning when you get a phone call like that is a little bit depressing but these things happen.
“I’ve been here long enough to know till a player actually puts pen to paper then there’s always a risk that somebody comes in at the last minute with an improved offer, a longer offer, and a more attractive status in league football.”
Despite the disappointment, Turner remains consistent on the level of quality he is looking to bring into the squad, and suggested that other options may become available next week after the weekend’s fixtures.
“One or two others have suddenly got an injury and there’s others that have said ‘yeah we can let him out next Monday or we’re trying to do something ourselves’. You set your sights on the highest quality of players that you can and those players have competition.
“There’s stacks of players available. I’m getting agents phoning me up and I’m getting texts from agents, lots of them available but it’s only of any use to us if they’re good enough to go straight into our team and I think the vast majority are not quite what we’re looking for.
They’re either too young or too inexperienced or just not good enough to go into a League One side.
“We’ve looked at other club’s signing players and thought we could’ve gone after them, but deep down you think whether they ready to go into our team, it’s quality not quantity we’re after.”