"Turnover and profits are all increasing but nowhere near the rate seen pre-recession and businesses are beginning to realise that this environment may be the norm for some time, " said Grant Thornton chief executive Scott Barnes.

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Edinburgh's Geoff Cross, Roddy Grant, Ben Cairns, Scott MacLeod and Greig Laidlaw will also have been particularly disappointed to have missed out on Andy Robinson's main squad along with Glasgow's Rob Dewey.

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Playing staff also laid-off included Brian Kerr, Mickael Antoine-Curier, Eric Paton, Dominic Shimmin, Njazi Kuqi, Paul McHale, Scott Fox, Colin McMenamin and Charlie Grant.

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Tom Westley fell first, beaten by some late movement to offer wicket-keeper Ben Scott his first of five victims, before Grant Flower edged to slip.

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