Rotherham United boss Alex Bruce has stated he is still unsure about how much money he will be able to reinvest following the sale of Sam Nombe.
The Millers cashed in on their star forward earlier in the week, with the Yorkshire side pocketing a fee not too far shy of the £1 million they paid to sign him from Exeter City back in 2023.
Bruce Left With Uncertainty
Nombe’s exit to MK Dons has left Rotherham in need of some new forward options, with the club just two weeks out from their opening match of the campaign.
While they have searched the free agency market for some options, including some interest in Bruce Anderson following his exit from Kilmarnock, they have not been able to sign any forwards except Fabio Tavares from Burton Albion.
However, when speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield after their pre-season friendly against Sheffield United, new United boss Alex Bruce admitted he was unsure if he would see any of the funds raised from Nombe’s sale (Quotes via Rotherham Advertiser):
“I know that’s the million-dollar question. And the God’s honest truth is, I don’t know. I want as much of it as I can.
“That’s not my domain. It’s not my football club and it’s not my money. So, whatever we get, we know what we’ve got to work with. And when we do, we’ll have a look at what business we can do.”
“Listen, the kind of guy that I am, I’ll be an utter pain in the arse. I want as much of it as I can. That would be lovely. Every manager would tell you the same thing. I’d want that – and I’d want more because I want to improve and get this place up and running and how it should be.
“However, you have to respect the owner and the powers that be. There are budgets, there are things in place. When the powers that be go through it and they come to a conclusion, then I’m sure they will let me know and then we’ll take it from there.”
Clarity Needed Quickly
With just two weeks until the start of the season and Rotherham United having just 12 senior players in their ranks, a decision needs to be reached very quickly in order for them to put a capable squad together.
The funds from Sam Nombe’s sale could be pivotal to those chances, and despite the budget constraints placed on Alex Bruce, having the certainty they can pay a fee for players could be vital to putting a few new bodies to try and make the side competitive.
Leaving a manager uncertain as to how much he will have to spend does highlight a communication problem at Rotherham United between the manager and the backroom, but hopefully it is an issue that can be resolved quickly.
Nevertheless, it is a development that may prove concerning to the fanbase at the New York Stadium, many of whom would have hoped that the introduction of a new Director of Football in the form of Steve McClaren and the arrival of Alex Bruce would have turned over a new leaf for the club.
