Stef can be a sea of calm (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Stef can be a sea of calm

STEFANI Miglioranzi will adopt the role of senior servant today and strive to steer his younger colleagues through turbulent waters.

The New Yorker is now the club's biggest stalwart, currently in his fourth season at the County Ground.

Added to that, the 28-year-old is almost certainly going to be the 'veteran' of the Town side in terms of age today.

Time inevitably leads to attachment and there is no question Town's current plight hurts Miglioranzi.

He said: "I've been here the longest. I know the club a little bit more and I think I have a little bit more attachment to it than the rest of the lads."

While focusing on his own game is the first order of business the midfielder will take it upon himself to offer a more vocal, encouraging contribution to the youngsters in the team.

He said: "I'll go out there and try and help lead the young lads."

Aside from taking on greater leadership responsibilities, Miglioranzi is also intent on dragging others into the League One mire.

He knows that beating the Millers would bring Town within two points of their hosts as well as lifting the Wiltshire men off the bottom for the first time since September 27.

He said: "It's a great chance. In

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the next few weeks we play a few of the teams that are down there with us.

"If we can win two or three of those games we'll be a lot happier.

"Getting off the bottom would help loads and take the weight off the shoulders. From there you can move on.

"If you lose at the bottom it really takes its toll and it can linger on with you in the next performance.

"If we beat Rotherham it takes us up the table and drags them down and might drag them into a bad run.

"So it's a week to close the gap start making people worry."

Miglioranzi has shaken off his own fitness worries and he is looking forward to meeting up with Mick Harford once again.

He said: "Mick was a great guy and nice to work with but now he's the enemy and we have to go there and get the right result.

"I'm sure he knows a few things about us that he can talk to his team about."

And Miglioranzi also knows that a former Portsmouth colleague will have to be watched closely, one Deon Burton.

He said: "He's a strong, talented player, pretty quick and decisive in front of goal as well."

FORMER Town goalkeeper Steve Book has been registered by Bristol Rovers on non-contract terms.

Already employed as the Pirates' goalkeeping coach, the 36-year-old will act as cover for Scott Shearer and Martin Horsell.

He was appointed as coach by Rovers in September, after initially joining them during pre-season.

Book had recently been playing for Cirencester Town having been released by Andy King at the end of the 2004-05 campaign.