Rotherham United defender Jake Hull is set to spend the final year of his contract playing in non-league football after being left out of the Millers’ squad for the 2023/24 season.
Hull, who joined Rotherham on a three-year deal in 2021 during Paul Warne’s tenure, has struggled for first-team opportunities and hasn’t made a senior appearance in nearly three years. Millers’ manager Steve Evans has confirmed that Hull, currently recovering from an ankle injury, will be sent out on loan once he regains full fitness.
“The plan for Jake when he comes back is for him to go into non-league football and get some games,” Evans told the Rotherham Advertiser. “When he’s been around us, the kid’s been great, it has to be said. I cannot fault him for how he played when I put him on the pitch for periods of games in pre-season. He did well for us.”
Hull’s time at Rotherham has seen him feature in just three Papa Johns Trophy matches. In search of regular football, he spent time on loan at Hartlepool United in League Two during the 2022/23 season and last year played for Buxton in the National League North.
However, Rotherham’s strong defensive options block the 22-year-old’s path to the first team, including summer signing Sean Raggett, Cameron Humphreys, Jamie McCart, and Zak Jules. The competition for places in central defence is fierce, with Evans acknowledging the challenges Hull faces.
“The reality is, our competition for places in central defence is really tough,” Evans added. “We’ve got the centre-half of last season’s League One champions fighting to get back in among Humphreys and McCart. McCart has been the find of the summer, the absolute find.”
Hull, who turns 23 next month, is no longer eligible to be included in clubs’ EFL squad lists as an under-21 player without registration, further limiting his prospects at the club.
Writer’s View
Jake Hull’s situation at Rotherham highlights the brutal competition that often defines life in professional football. While Hull was once seen as a promising prospect, the emergence of players like Jamie McCart and the arrival of Sean Raggett have pushed him down the pecking order. His move to non-league football could offer him much-needed playing time, but it also signals that his future at Rotherham is uncertain at best.
Steve Evans seems eager to downplay any instability, praising Hull’s attitude and performances in pre-season, but the reality is clear: Hull’s chances at Rotherham are fading. The loan move may allow him to rebuild his career, but it underscores the unpredictable nature of football at this level.
Founder of The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
