Ex Rotherham United man Paul Raynor battling with "serious" medical condition
He won two promotions during his time with the Millers
A former Rotherham United number two is cutting back on his football commitments to concentrate on his fight against a serious illness.
Paul Raynor, who had two spells at AESSEAL New York Stadium as assistant boss under Steve Evans, is now working for the Millers' League Two rivals, Bristol Rovers, in the same role.
Evans, who is in charge at the Memorial Ground, gave an insight into his colleague's situation when he spoke to the media in the south west late last week.
Unprompted, he revealed: "Paul is probably going to have to step away, maybe for a little while. He'll be around, hopefully, on matchdays, but he's got his own individual health battle that he has to undertake.
"It's quite a serious one."
Evans and 60-year-old Raynor had an unforgettable three-and-half-year spell with Rotherham between April 2012 and September 2016, winning back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship and then keeping the Millers in the second tier. They returned in 2024 for a second stint that ended after 11 months.
The pair have been close friends for years and have worked at a number of clubs together.
Evans said: "He's been incredible since the news broke. He's been in, and Paul knows what fight he's got. He spoke to the chairman and senior board members, and they've given him, and continue to give him, the most fantastic support.
"He's in the building today. He's been shouting and bawling on the training ground. Paul will never stop; he'll be shouting and bawling for decisions on Saturdays.
"People perhaps won't see him around on a training day or a matchday; he's not going to be completely absent - he never will be, from my life, I think."