"In the meantime we tried to do a deal with Shaun and we had several conversations. He arranged to come into pre-season training when it started on the Friday but he didn't report as he said he wanted the weekend to think about it. We let him have that but he didn't turn up again on the Monday saying he wanted another 24 hours and then it continued like that before we were unable to establish contact with him."
"Obviously our board is very disappointed with what has happened, we know the manager is disappointed as well and we feel as a club and from Alan's point of view we have bent over backwards to try and find a positive solution. We feel he has had very bad advice from an agent who has turned his head and filled it full of money. That's unfortunate for both Shaun and this club and now only time will tell how the full outcome will effect Shaun's career."
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Manager Alan Knill who has had Barker under his helm since the versatile defender was just 15, felt no happier about the situation than his chairman. "I am obviously disappointed that it has come to this. We made Shaun an offer that he wasn't too happy with so we made him a second one. But there was nothing positive from him or his agent and last weekend I spoke to his agent who intimated that Shaun wanted to sign for x amount of pounds more."
"But I said no as that was our final offer and if he wanted to sign he would be in already. Then on Monday I found out he had trained at Blackpool. Over the weekend I had spoken to Pablo Mills and once I heard that Shaun had trained at Blackpool I realised he didn't want to be here so I signed Pablo. I am saddened by the affair as I have had Shaun since he was 15 years old and for it to finish like this is not the best way. But whatever happens I wish him all the best."
Barker made 119 starts for the Millers after been given his debut as a 20 year old by Ronnie Moore at Brighton in March 2003 and was widely acclaimed to be developing in to a first class defender before his contract expired in the summer.