Former Lincoln City centre-half Sean Raggett has been released by recently-relegated Rotherham United.
It’s a move unlikely to raise many eyebrows, given Raggett barely got a look in during a loan spell at League Two promotion winners Cambridge United in the second half of the season.
The 32-year-old was only at the Imps for 18 months, but made quite the impact as Lincoln won the National League title. One of the best young defenders in the National League, Raggett departed Dover Athletic in favour of a move to Lincolnshire in the Cowley’s first year at Sincil Bank. He barely missed a minute in the fifth-tier, scoring five times in 41 appearances as City stormed to the title.
However, his finest moment in an Imps shirt came in the FA Cup. There’s been a lot of discussion lately about whether Jack Moylan’s winner at Reading is the best moment as an Imps supporter, but for me, Burnley away won’t be beaten. A training ground routine late in the day at Turf Moor, headed home by Raggett, secured a famous FA Cup upset for the Imps. The Gillingham-born defender was snapped up by Norwich City that summer, but returned to Lincolnshire to play 23 times in League Two.
After leaving Portsmouth, Raggett’s career hasn’t quite gone to plan. Moving from the South Coast to Rotherham in 2024, as part of the supposed ‘League One super team of free agents’ that the Millers were building, he played just 18 league games in two seasons. Out of favour again at the AESSEAL New York Stadium this campaign, the centre-half departed for Cambridge in the winter transfer window.
However, he made only three appearances for the U’s, all off the bench, as they replaced Rotherham in League One next year. For a defender who was a frequent performer at this level for four years at Pompey, playing at least 44 times each season, it leaves Raggett with plenty to consider before making his next move.
Who Else Has Left Rotherham?
Unsurprisingly, the Millers have had a clear-out of their squad following their drop into the fourth tier. After years of yo-yoing between the Championship and League One, it was a desperately disappointing year for the South Yorkshire outfit. In truth, the decision to sack Matt Hamshaw probably came too late, with Rotherham’s fate all but sealed by the time he departed the club in mid-March.
No fewer than 11 senior players have been released, with some interesting names on that list. Josh Benson was a player that I always liked the look of, but injuries in recent years have destroyed his career. Duncan Watmore has Premier League experience and was playing in the second tier last year, but will depart the New York Stadium at the end of June.
Reece James and Jordan Hugill are both familiar names at this level, but will also be looking for new clubs in the off-season. With no new man in charge of the Millers, decisions surrounding the futures of Shaun McWilliams and Dru Yearwood will have to wait. Rotherham are hoping to have a new manager in charge in the coming weeks, as they prepare for life in League Two next year.
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