Millwall defender reveals thought process around finding next club – and why he is ‘gutted’ he won’t be back at Calmont Road in pre-season
MURRAY Wallace is targeting earning a contract with a club within commuting distance of his family home near Manchester after leaving Millwall this summer.
The Lions confirmed the release of 32-year-old defender Wallace after seven seasons, 226 appearances and thirteen goals in all competitions.
Wallace started his career in England in 2012 with Huddersfield Town, less than an hour from Manchester.
Wallace should have plenty of options, with a number of EFL clubs within an hour’s radius.
Wallace and his wife have three young children, the eldest aged three, and are keen to organise school plans.
“We’re based just south of Manchester and there are a lot of teams around that area,” Wallace told NewsAtDen. “My wife and I are looking to get them settled into schooling. Ideally I’d like to get a team that’s commutable from home.
“My wife is from Manchester and we’ve got family around there.”
Wallace’s season ended through injury in January, but he was back at Calmont Road last week working on building up his fitness. He accepts that the way he plays means injuries are an occupational hazard.
Wallace said: “You have to give everything on the pitch and then embrace what happens. Unfortunately injuries, contact injuries are part of football, it’s just how you deal with it.
“But I always come back from them stronger. There’s no fear and you can’t be worried about getting injured again.”
Meanwhile, Wallace admitted he was “gutted” he won’t be able to defend his 1,500metre title this summer.
The race has become a staple of Millwall’s pre-season, a fiercely competitive battle that no one was able to get the better of Wallace in.
He was asked who might take over his mantle.
“Never beaten. It’s something that I’m gutted about that I won’t be there to defend my title next season,” Wallace said.
“Seven years and nobody beat me to that title so I’m quite happy about that.
“It could be interesting. I think Billy Mitchell has got a good chance. I think Coops [Jake Cooper] is alway quite strong, maybe even the likes of Dan Kelly, he’s a really fit lad so he could be one to look out for.”
