The extent of Rotherham’s challenge to compete in the
Championship is further highlighted this weekend with the visit of Fulham and
their £60million wage bill.
The Cottagers were in a relegation fight with the Millers
last season, despite parachute payments from their Premier League days and they
again are among the highest salary payers in the division.
But Kit Symons’ men have yet to win this campaign, meaning
the game takes on extra significance at the bottom of the table, with the
Millers also winless.
Given the difference in budgets – around £55million – Fulham
ought to be heavy favourites for the clash at New York Stadium, but that won’t
deter the Millers in a game they will have grand designs on winning.
“It's two teams in need of a win, isn't it? It's one of the
top two or three spenders in the league against the bottom spenders,” boss
Steve Evans said. “But that doesn't give you any right to win football matches
because you spent more.
“It's not always about money. I think Bournemouth have
proved that. We're ready for the international break but we're ready for it
with a win. A win makes you enjoy that two weeks without playing even
more.
“The wage bill at Fulham last year was £60.4 million and it
will have gone up this year because they have signed players to improve them.
“Then you see us at £4.8 million. You don't have to be a
rocket scientist or an accountant to work out the gulf in class you can get
with that.
“But what we have to do is park that.
“Are we going to break the wage structure in the dressing
room? No, we're not. He knows I wouldn't do it.
“And he knows I will bring players into the football club
only if they appear to give us value for money.”
As if Fulham didn’t have a big an advantage already, they
also have a spy in the dressing room in Ben Pringle, who left the Millers in the
summer.
The 26-year-old, who turned down a new deal in South
Yorkshire after four years at the club, is in a position to guide his new
team-mates on the intricacies of his old team’s style.
Not that he thinks the will need it.
“I think everyone knows what Rotherham United are going to
be like, especially under Steve Evans, you know what the team are going to do,”
Pringle said.
“I said to one of the lads, it doesn’t matter who’s on the
teamsheet or what name is on the back of the shirt, if you start the game and
get about people and hustle and fight for the ball, the rest will take care of
itself and that’s what we had massively at Rotherham in the team that got
promoted. The Fulham lads will know what to
expect.”
Pringle has yet to reach the heights which attracted the
London club to take him to Craven Cottage, but after a midweek run-out against
Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup he is feeling back to his best, just in
time for his Millers reunion.
