Bye Bye Claridge ?

By J Bateman
March 14 2003

Millwall's warhorse striker Steve Claridge looks likely to be on his way out of Millwall at the end of the season.

Millwall's warhorse striker Steve Claridge looks likely to be on his way out of Millwall at the end of the season.

Claridge 36 , is out of contract at the end of the season and Millwall are looking to the younger generation to set Millwall up for the future.

With the membership scheme introduced this year , the punters have stopped coming throught the turnstiles and that has meant lack of money because of falling attendances , and that also means no new cash for renewal of contracts , with that news players like Steve Claridge and other 30 somethings might have to look elsewhere.

Millwall boss Mark Mcghee said " "That's the way the game should go , We brought Steven Reid, Tim Cahill and Richard Sadlier in when they were very young and they've got 150 games behind them now."

"When I won the Cup Winners Cup with Aberdeen the average age was 23. If you're good enough you're old enough and we can take a long-term view with some of our youngsters."

"Steve has to understand it's nothing to do with age, it's to do with finances because players at his end of their career tend to earn more."