Rotherham United have recruited a player with the ability to pull strings, according to manager Steve Evans, as anyone who saw him in March should already be aware.
The Millers pulled off a major coup by signing midfielder Kelly on a free transfer after five years as Coventry City’s club captain.
Evans revealed that former Rotherham player and manager Mark Robins, who offered him the job, was skeptical about Kelly joining the League One club.
Evans is enthusiastic about what his seventh signing this summer can offer to the club, despite the fact that the transfer window does not open until a week on Friday.
He is also unconcerned about his age. “He’s a really good player, Liam, a fantastic professional,” he stated.
“He’s played against my teams numerous times, commanding things in the middle of midfield. According to Josh Eccles, Liam Kelly is the best player he has played with in Coventry.
He’s a fantastic signing. People will say he is 34 years old. He might be 54 the way he plays.
“Supporters will really like him and for those who watched the demoliation by Coventry last season (they beat Rotherham 5-0), Kelly was pulling every string, he was sensational.
“He will offer many great moments like that, but he is aware of his competition. “We did fantastically well to obtain him because he had several possibilities.
“I spoke to Mark Robins and his words were, ‘I don’t think you’ll get him’ but I met him a couple of times, I think his wife was probably fed up of me WhatsApping and ringing him.”
Kelly joins Rotherham for the upcoming season alongside Joe Powell, Josh Rafferty, Sean Raggett, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Reece James, and Shaun McWilliams.
“Liam Kelly is one of those players where if you’re an opposition manager you go, ‘You have to get close,'” Evans stated.
“I’m not going to make him out to be something he isn’t; he’s just a terrific passing creative who will energize us when we’re under pressure and can place a ball on a toadstool from 60 feet away. That will suffice for me.”