Hot-shot listed as Millers cut costs

Finances have forced Carlton Town to transfer list Evo-Stik Northern Premier League hot-shot Reuben Wiggins-Thomas.

The striker bagged 27 goals last season, including one in the final of the Derbyshire Senior Cup to help the Millers lift the trophy in April, pictured.

Millers manager Les McJannet understands the budgetary pressures the First Division South outfit are under to cut costs and let their leading scorer and highest earner over the last two seasons leave Stoke Lane.

The Millers revealed on Tuesday that they are looking for a fee for the forward and McJannet said: "This is a financial decision and not a footballing one. We are under pressure financially from several different directions at the moment which I am well aware of and tough decisions have to be taken.

"I have already accepted I will be going down to three players on the bench and do not want this club to go the way of many of its neighbours, so we will take the decisions and move on. We still have some talented players here so I am not negative about it.

"Reuben will go on and score lots of goals for somebody else and we wish him well, he will be a great signing for someone. He is the highest earner at the club, so that’s why the decision has to be taken. We are looking for a small fee as he is contracted to the club but will be sensible in our dealings with interested parties."

Stand-in Chairman Chuck Fowler, who has taken over from Mick Garton temporarily until Christmas while he concentrates on his business interests, confirmed that on-going efforts to cut costs were behind the surprise announcement on Tuesday.

Fowler said: "We are where we are financially and I have let it be known to people of late what the situation is: money is tight. I’m sure when Mick [Garton] steps back into the chair, he will go into more detail but this club will not be allowed to go the way of others locally by mismanagement."

He added: "Reuben has done a great job for the club and I’d like to think we’ve looked after him well too but that’s life."