Two members of staff, one of them award-winning groundsman Bill Corby, were shown the door yesterday.

The long-serving 57-year-old, with 25 years' service at the club, has left along with Customer Relations Manager Carol Rockett as administrator Jeremy Bleazard made the first cuts in the club's finances.

With further savings inevitable, it is likely that club employees (outside the players and staff) will have wage deferrals imposed, which has been a cost-saving exercise at other stricken clubs.

Corby joined the club in 1983 and established an excellent reputation for the quality of the Millmoor pitch, three times being named Groundsman of the Year in the Football League awards.

He said he was "gutted and shocked" but wanted to see the club survive and wished it all the best in the bid to do so.

"Ironically, I've never seen the pitch looking in better condition at this time of year than it does now," he said.

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"Ever since Ken Booth, then chairman, invested money in it by involving a particular firm of specialists to carry out certain work each year, it can stand up to anyone's pitch.

"I've really enjoyed my time there and would like to thank the fans who have always been brilliant with me."

Carol Rockett was with the club over 10 years, working in the Commercial Office and at one time was Commercial Manager before restructuring. She later worked in the ticket office and was Customer Relations Manager and was heavily involved in hospitality work and other duties on matchdays.

In the past two years, since the takeover from the Millers 05 Board, there have been cuts and savings on overheads together with what the club term "a thorough reorganisation of staffing in every department."

It has meant a number of employees, among them some loyal and long-serving members of staff, have left the club. It has also had four Commercial Managers in that time but does not currently have one after the last one, matchday announcer Tony Styles, left two weeks ago.

Millers reserves won 3-1 at Lincoln with a hat-trick from Tom Cahill after going behind. Cahill, recently back from a loan spell at Altrincham, struck in the 50th, 59th and 66th minutes, his final goal a penalty.

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