This summer, striker Jonson Clarke-Harris returned to Rotherham United after leaving for Coventry City six years earlier.
Clarke-Harris joined Rotherham from Oldham Athletic in September 2014 for a then-club-record cost of £350,000, although he failed to settle at the New York Stadium, spending time on loan at MK Dons and Doncaster Rovers in 2015.
The striker soon established himself in the lineup, but injuries kept him from displaying his best form in a Millers shirt, thus he signed a loan contract with Coventry in January 2018 before making the move permanent that summer.
After leaving Rotherham, Clarke-Harris became one of League One’s most productive strikers. He won the Golden Boot twice while at Peterborough United, first in 2020-21 with 31 league goals and again in 2022-23 with 26 goals.
The Millers appear to have realised their mistake in allowing Clarke-Harris to leave, as he became the club’s first signing of the summer in May, signing a two-year contract and being chosen captain by manager Steve Evans.
Rotherham United fan pundit highlights Jonson Clarke-Harris Transfer Regret
When asked which player he believes the club sold too soon, FLW’s Rotherham United fan analyst Tom Eyre expressed his disappointment that the Millers allowed Clarke-Harris to leave at a time when they badly needed a prolific goalscorer.
“A couple spring to mind when I talk about players that we sold early,” he said.
“One player who comes to mind is Jerry Yates, who went on to have a successful career with Blackpool after we sold him.
“But I believe the major one, and many fans would agree, is Jonson Clarke-Harris.
“Obviously, he’s back at the club again, but when we let him go, he was Bristol Rovers’ leading scorer.
“He scored goals everywhere he went and was the League One Golden Boot winner on a consistent basis.
“At the time, we needed a goal scorer; obviously, Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo came in and performed admirably, but we let him leave around the same time.
“I would have to say I think we let him go early.”
Rotherham United should not be blamed for Jonson Clarke-Harris decision
In retrospect, it is simple to argue that Rotherham should not have allowed Clarke-Harris to leave, but few could have forecast his career trajectory after his departure.
Clarke-Harris scored only 10 goals in 78 games during his first tenure at the New York Stadium, so manager Paul Warne cannot be faulted for letting him go, and his replacement, Michael Smith, has proven to be a superb addition for the Millers.
Following Clarke-Harris’ fantastic showing at Peterborough, it was a coup for Rotherham to get him this summer, and while he has not delivered consistently this season, he is a huge asset for Evans to have at his disposal. Clarke-Harris gained promotion from League One with Posh in 2020-21, and he will be looking to repeat the feat with the Millers this season, albeit it may be difficult given their sluggish start.
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