By Pete Oliver

The main thing is that the club survived John Mullin

Rotherham United look to have won their biggest battle this season just by staying alive.

From a position hours away from going out of business, the Millers were hauled back from the brink in March by a group of local businessmen.

Now, though, the focus is back on the pitch where the club is facing a further fight to avoid a second successive relegation and a return, after six years, to the basement division.

"First and foremost the main thing is that the club survived and that someone came in and put a plan together which hopefully will work," long-serving midfielder John Mullin told BBC Sport.

"That's the main thing and if we stay up as well that will be a bonus."

Not that Rotherham's players are using the near death-knell as a get-out clause as they scrap for safety.

"There have been distractions. There were a lot of meetings regarding wages and it's been a tough time for everyone," Mullin added.

"But we are professionals, we are paid to play football and when we are on the pitch the off-the-field activities do not really come into it.

"The players have never used that as an excuse and if you look at it, we have probably got more points since that has been going on."

THE REMAINING GAMES Bournemouth: Nottm Forest (a), Brentford (h) Blackpool: Scunthorpe (a), Gillingham (h) Yeovil: Huddersfield (a), Colchester (h) Tranmere: Milton Keynes Dons (a), Doncaster (h) Rotherham: Colchester (a), Milton Keynes Dons (h) Milton Keynes Dons: Tranmere (h), Rotherham (a) Hartlepool: Brentford (a), Port Vale (h) Swindon: Bristol City (a), Huddersfield (h) Walsall are already relegated

Money was always tight, but Rotherham's playing problems had kicked in before the depth of their financial plight came to light as a bright start to the season soon faded away.

A run of 17 games without a win heralded the departure of manager Mick Harford in December, when the Millers were already in the relegation zone.

Former Rotherham defender Alan Knill stepped into the breach for a second spell as caretaker-boss and this time his efforts earned him the job on a permanent basis.

"If we do manage to stay up it will be a great achievement from where we were and I think Alan has to take a lot of credit for that," said Mullin, who is in his fifth season at Millmoor.

"He has done a really good job under the circumstances. The players have been focused and given their all.

"We would probably have settled for this position two or three months ago when perhaps we looked a bit dead and buried.

"We have dug in and managed to give ourselves a fighting chance, although it's tricky because everyone else seems to be winning as well.

"You always look at 50 points to stay up but it looks like it's going to go beyond that and we probably need another win."

Under Knill, Rotherham have won eight times and lost just three of their last 12 games.

That is hardly relegation form, but with Milton Keynes Dons launching an unlikely recovery with four successive wins, safety remains tantalisingly out of reach.

To add to the drama, Rotherham face the Dons on the final day of the season.

However, the Millers know that fixture will not matter to them if they can win at promotion-chasing Colchester on Saturday to secure their League One status.

Milton Keynes have generated a real momentum John Mullin

"To have a two-point cushion - although I know that can change in one game - could be crucial, and if we can get one win from the two games, hopefully that should be enough," Mullin, 30, added.

"Milton Keynes have generated a real momentum. Sometimes when it looks like you are dead and buried, a bit of pressure goes off and you just give it everything.

"I think that's what has happened but then when it looks like a position where you could be safe the psychology might change a little bit.

"We are hoping we get a positive result on Saturday - otherwise, it will certainly be nervous entering that last game."

Rotherham's rescue plans involve a planned company voluntary arrangement which, under League rules, would mean a 10-point deduction at the start of next season.

That would be easier to take if the South Yorkshire club is still playing at its current level.

Mullin insists that no-one is thinking that far ahead, and with Rotherham fighting their battles one at a time, is optimistic that the players can do their bit between now and the end of the season.

"It's about keeping your nerve in this sort of situation and playing with a bit of confidence, more than anything," said the former Burnley and Sunderland schemer.