New manager's fitness pledge

After tasting defeat in his first match away to Shrewsbury Town at the weekend, the new boss concluded that some, but not all, of the players he has inherited are able to play at the level he demands from start to finish.

The Millers out-ran and out-battled their opponents in the first half but couldn't keep it up in the second period, eventually losing 3-1.

Evans wants to raise fitness levels and said the hard work would start this summer.

He said: "I've told them, they have to be fit enough to play with the same intensity for 90 minutes. Some are and some are not and if you aren't then you don't win football matches, and certainly not at the top of the tree.

"The players are very fit this year, but next season we'll be fitter and mentally stronger and will be prepared to run for 95 minutes. We can't do it all in a day or a week or three weeks but it will come and that's why pre-season will be absolutely vital to us."

Evans has his first home match in charge at home to Morecambe on Saturday.