No hard feelings: Portsmouth boss' delight at rejected pair swiftly finding new homes

Certainly John Mousinho isn’t surprised by the speed at which League One title winners Sean Raggett and Joe Rafferty were recruited.

The defensive pair were announced on two-year deals apiece by the Millers in mid-May, around three weeks before the transfer window officially opened.

Undoubtedly it has been a lightning start to the recruitment drive for the club which finished bottom of the Championship last season, earning their relegation.

The duo left Fratton Park on good terms, despite the disappointment of being shown the door after a glorious season.

And such was Mousinho’s genuine delight to see them find a new club, he sent the popular pair messages of congratulations.

He told The News: ‘It’s no surprise because of the fact they’ve had such good seasons at this level and, competing at the top end of League One, are absolutely fantastic signings.

‘Both have league winners' medals around their neck and to get those moves on multi-year contracts is nothing less than they deserved.

‘I texted both of them afterwards with my congratulations. We parted on good terms, there were adult conversations about it, Joe in particular has made reference to that, he was probably the one more surprised out of the two.

‘That was fine, we gave our reasons and shook hands. Joe was obviously disappointed and we would love to have given contacts to everyone, but we must make the best decisions we possibly can - and they were ours.

‘We will live and die by it, like we do with every recruitment decision. The proof is in the pudding and we must make the right decisions for the football club.

‘I disagree with players all the time on whether they should be in the side. I usually have 25-26 players who all think they should be starting games, which is great, that's what I want.

‘I have to pick a team which I think is going to do that and we, as a collective recruitment department, must try to make those decisions as well.

‘We had good conversations with those two and I 100 per cent wish them all the best next season. I wouldn’t be surprised if this time next year they’re talking about Championship football.’

Rotherham have already signed 10 players during the close season, all on free transfers.

Joining Rafferty and Raggett are Jonson Clarke-Harris, Liam Kelly, Zak Jules, Joe Powell and Shaun McWilliams.

Mousinho added: ‘Rotherham have done some really good business early on. They’ve taken two players who have been a massive part of the league-winning campaign for us - and Steve Evans knows what he’s doing anyway.

‘With his history at Rotherham and the players he has brought in, I would be surprised if they weren’t competing for League One promotion.’