Rotherham United are awaiting a decision from free agent Dominic Iorfa after offering the experienced defender a contract. Manager Alex Bruce confirmed the 31-year-old centre-half has been training with the League Two side and a verdict is expected over the weekend.
Bruce, speaking to the Rotherham Advertiser, made it clear the club's pitch goes beyond financial terms. "It's not only about finances, it's opportunity, it's location, it's about, where is he settled?" he said. "All these kind of things come into the process of it." Iorfa lives locally with his children in Rotherham schools, factors Bruce believes are significant in the recruitment drive.
The manager is unequivocal about the defender's quality. "Is he a player who would help us? Of course he is," Bruce stated. "He's played at a higher level all of his career. He's a very, very good player." Iorfa brings a wealth of Championship experience from spells with Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he made close to 100 appearances, and Sheffield Wednesday, for whom he played more than 200 times across seven years until his release in May.
Rotherham are in the midst of a major squad overhaul following three difficult seasons, having made 15 summer signings already. The club aims to compete for promotion from the fourth tier and has leftover funds from the transfer window to help a free-agent arrival. While they cannot match the wages Iorfa earned at Sheffield Wednesday, they hope the overall package of playing time and stability will prove persuasive.
Adding a defender of Iorfa's calibre could provide a timely boost. Rotherham currently sit 18th in League Two with five points from their opening five matches, having scored six goals and conceded seven. Their recent form reads one win, two draws and two defeats, with a 1-0 loss away to Bristol Rovers last time out leaving them seven points adrift of the leaders.
The immediate focus turns to the weekend and Iorfa's choice. Beyond that, Bruce's side prepare for their next league fixture at AESSEAL New York Stadium against Port Vale, who are bottom of the table. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full fixtures list and current standings on the club's official pages.
