Rotherham United have given free agent Dominic Iorfa a Monday deadline to decide on their contract offer, with manager Alex Bruce confirming rival interest in the defender. The 31-year-old centre-half has been training with the Millers and is understood to have a contract on the table from the League Two club.
"I think there are a couple of clubs sniffing around him, as you can imagine," Bruce told the Rotherham Advertiser. The manager's comments came after his side's dramatic 3-3 home draw with Salford City, a result that leaves Rotherham 16th in the table with six points from six games.
Dominic Iorfa is an experienced defender with nearly 100 appearances for Wolverhampton Wanderers and more than 200 for Sheffield Wednesday. The Southend-born player left Wednesday at the end of last season and has been a free agent since. He has been training at Rotherham's Roundwood base and, crucially, already lives in the town with his children attending local schools, making him settled in the north.
It is understood that at least one club from League One is also showing interest in Iorfa. The Advertiser reports that this interested party is not a major club at that level and is based in the south, which could play to Rotherham's advantage given Iorfa's established life in the area. Bruce, who took over as manager two and a half months ago, is keen to add the defender's experience to a squad that has conceded 10 goals in its opening six league matches.
The backdrop to Bruce's transfer update was a chaotic match at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Rotherham found themselves 2-0 down after 31 minutes following goals from Salford's Ryan Graydon and Joe Powell. Brendan Cover sparked the comeback with a goal two minutes later, and Paul Mullin equalised from the penalty spot just before half-time. Ossama Ashley put Rotherham ahead ten minutes after the break.
The game turned again when Salford's Abraham Odoh was sent off for a second yellow card, with the score at 3-2. Salford manager Peter Cklamovski disputed the decision. "I initially thought it was a penalty because there was definitely some contact and Abraham is going at speed as well," he said. Instead, Salford won a penalty of their own in the 78th minute, which Macaulay Langstaff converted to secure a point for the ten-man visitors.
The immediate focus is on Iorfa's decision, which is expected by Monday. Adding a defender of his calibre would be a boost for a team that has shown resilience, coming from behind in three of its last five matches. Rotherham's recent form reads DLDWD, with that run including a 2-1 win over Chesterfield and a 2-2 draw at Tranmere. The club will hope for a positive answer from Iorfa as they look to build on a start that has them six points behind early leaders Barnet.
