Boss Mills pleased with hard-working Steelmen

Action from Corby Town's 1-0 win at Leicester Road as Gary Mills enjoyed a winning start to life as manager. Pictures by Jim Darrah

Gary Mills insists hard work will be a “given” for his Corby Town players as the new season approaches.

The new Steelmen boss got a first look at his squad in a match situation last night (Tuesday) as a second-half goal from Jordon Crawford earned them a 1-0 friendly success at Leicester Road.

And Mills admitted he was delighted by the work-rate his players have shown, not just in their first run-out but in training since he arrived.

Jordon Crawford scored Corby's goal in their friendly success

The Steelmen’s season gets under way with a trip to either Hadleigh United or Mildenhall Town in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup on September 12.

And Mills said: “That was the first game for the players since February so they needed it.

“The team we played are a very good outfit, they have been together for three years so it was a good workout for the first game.

“It was about fitness more than anything else but for me, personally, it was the chance for a first glimpse of my players in a game situation.

Jordan O'Brien was back in Corby colours

“As always, it was a learning process but the players have worked so far since I have come in and I have told them that is a given with me.

“We are going to be an organised, hard-working team and we probably won the game last night because of our work-rate more than anything else. That was pleasing.

“We have another game at Desborough Town on Saturday but we start in just over two weeks so we have to make sure we have everything in place to go and tackle the season.”

Jordan O’Brien, who left Corby to sign for Sheffield Wednesday where he featured for the under-23 team over the past couple of years, was a surprise inclusion in the Steelmen team on last night.

And a decision on whether he will be part of Mills’ squad this season looks set to be made sooner rather than later.

“Jordan has come in and done well but he has aspirations of getting into the professional game,” the Corby manager added.

“He has had an offer to go up to Scotland to train somewhere for a couple of weeks.

“The decision on whether that is going to happen is going to be made at the end of this week.

“If he does go then he won’t be part of my squad but he has been told by me that there’s an offer there for him and he will now make that decision over the next couple of days.”