Rotherham boss Alan Knill admits he put the club ahead of his own reputation over the sales of Lee Williamson and Will Hoskins to Watford in January.
Williamson and Hoskins moved to Watford in early January
The deal could earn the Millers up to £1.2m, but they have since slumped to the bottom of League One.
"I think I sacrificed my reputation to sell those two. I should have said no - it was hard enough at minus 10 points," Knill told BBC Radio Sheffield.
"But the bigger picture was that the money saved the football club."
Rotherham began the season on minus 10 points after going into administration.
They are now eight points adrift at the bottom of the table - and 13 points from safety with 13 games remaining.