In February 1996 he joined Division Three side Rochdale on a six-week loan, as the arrival of Coton had reduced him to third choice goalkeeper after six months as second choice. Coton left for Sunderland just before the start of the 1996–97 season, but Pilkington's hopes of becoming second choice goalkeeper again were ended by the arrival of 33-year-old Dutchman Van der Gouw. He played no part in United's 1996–97 season, instead joining Rotherham United on a three-month loan in January 1997. He played 17 games for the Second Division club, keeping just two clean sheets in a sub-par team that finished the season seventeen points adrift of safety from relegation. Pilkington played two games of United's disappointing 1997–98 campaign. On Boxing Day, he kept goal in a 2–0 defeat of Everton at Old Trafford, though two days later he conceded three at Highfield Road – Coventry City winning 3–2. He spent two months on loan with Scottish Premier League giants Celtic in the run-up to their 1998 title triumph, but he failed to make the field.
