Home
Matt Mills has vowed to carry on regardless as his contract ticks down at Wanderers.
Despite wearing the captain’s armband as an emergency striker in the Whites’ valiant effort against Liverpool in midweek, the 28-year-old is still no wiser about whether he will be at the Macron Stadium beyond next summer.
Mills has been one of Wanderers’ most consistent players this season but rumours of interest from Fulham in the January window raised questions about whether he could be shipped out as the club continues to curb its wage bill.
If he is aware of the uncertainty, he isn’t letting it show on the pitch, and Mills’ commanding appearance as a striker pricked the national consciousness on Wednesday night – with his name trending on Twitter for the entire first half.
Expected to return to his regular centre-half spot against Derby tomorrow, he insists he wants to remain a Bolton player beyond the summer.
“Of course I would – since the manager came in he’s been brilliant and it’s a great bunch of lads, so why not?” he said.
“I’m loving my time here but contract talks haven’t really taken place.
“If and when they do we’ll see if they are appreciated, or if my services are not required then my contract finishes in the summer. So all I can do is try and perform to the best I can and help the team any which way possible.”
Mills says he ignored talk of interest from Fulham last week and remains relaxed about his situation at Wanderers.
“I try not to get caught up in whatever talk has been going on,” he said. “I just keep my phone to one side and concentrate on my football.
“If the time comes where there is a contract in front of me to sign, then I will sign it.
“But that's obviously not happened yet.”
Mills is also waiting to hear if he will be named the club captain now that Jay Spearing has been loaned out for the season to neighbours Blackburn Rovers.
Adam Bogdan, Neil Danns and David Wheater are also in the frame for the job, while Darren Pratley and Emile Heskey have also been offered the armband in the last few months.
But Mills remains comfortable with whatever decision the manager makes.
“That discussion hasn’t taken place,” he said. “Wheats (Wheater) came into the team Saturday and led the boys magnificently.
“I think it shows we’ve got characters in the squad. There are winners right the way through the dressing room.”
That changing mentality ensured Wednesday's he defeat against Liverpool was viewed by the dressing room as a big disappointment, rather than a valiant performance.
“We didn’t do enough, it isn’t good enough,” Mills reasoned. “They are high standards at this football club and we’ve let ourselves down, we feel.”
“It’s a titanic effort from 13 fit players at the club to take Liverpool to the last five minutes. But there are high demands at this football club now and it’s just frustrating that we didn’t get over the line.”
After failing to take all three points last weekend against Wolves, talk of catching up with the play-off pack has cooled considerably on the terraces.
Wanderers remain capable, insists Mills, and will not give up the chase lightly.
“The manager took over we had five points and were nearly bottom of the league, so I think you’ve seen everything improve since he came in,” he said. “There is a team spirit and a willingness to fight to the end and we’ll certainly be doing that.
“Liverpool were fully aware they were in a tie. We’ve gone from bottom of the league to half way up in the time the manager has been here – you can only take positives from that.
“You know what the manager is like – we won’t be sitting back and thinking how well we did against Liverpool.
“There will be a determination to finish as high as possible and if we can finish in the play offs, then fantastic.”
Lennon added several players to the squad in the final week of the transfer window in an effort to get upwardly mobile in the table once again.
And Mills hopes their arrival can signal the start of another long unbeaten run.
“A few players came in this week and have looked sharp in training, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they integrate into the team.
“I think players want to come to this club now because of what the manager is doing and what the players are doing, so that bodes well for the future.
“From what I’ve seen in training the likes of Barry Bannan and Adam Le Fondre are looking sharp.
“If that opportunity comes then I’m sure they will be up for it.”
Source
Despite wearing the captain’s armband as an emergency striker in the Whites’ valiant effort against Liverpool in midweek, the 28-year-old is still no wiser about whether he will be at the Macron Stadium beyond next summer.
Mills has been one of Wanderers’ most consistent players this season but rumours of interest from Fulham in the January window raised questions about whether he could be shipped out as the club continues to curb its wage bill.
If he is aware of the uncertainty, he isn’t letting it show on the pitch, and Mills’ commanding appearance as a striker pricked the national consciousness on Wednesday night – with his name trending on Twitter for the entire first half.
Expected to return to his regular centre-half spot against Derby tomorrow, he insists he wants to remain a Bolton player beyond the summer.
“Of course I would – since the manager came in he’s been brilliant and it’s a great bunch of lads, so why not?” he said.
“I’m loving my time here but contract talks haven’t really taken place.
“If and when they do we’ll see if they are appreciated, or if my services are not required then my contract finishes in the summer. So all I can do is try and perform to the best I can and help the team any which way possible.”
Mills says he ignored talk of interest from Fulham last week and remains relaxed about his situation at Wanderers.
“I try not to get caught up in whatever talk has been going on,” he said. “I just keep my phone to one side and concentrate on my football.
“If the time comes where there is a contract in front of me to sign, then I will sign it.
“But that's obviously not happened yet.”
Mills is also waiting to hear if he will be named the club captain now that Jay Spearing has been loaned out for the season to neighbours Blackburn Rovers.
Adam Bogdan, Neil Danns and David Wheater are also in the frame for the job, while Darren Pratley and Emile Heskey have also been offered the armband in the last few months.
But Mills remains comfortable with whatever decision the manager makes.
“That discussion hasn’t taken place,” he said. “Wheats (Wheater) came into the team Saturday and led the boys magnificently.
“I think it shows we’ve got characters in the squad. There are winners right the way through the dressing room.”
That changing mentality ensured Wednesday's he defeat against Liverpool was viewed by the dressing room as a big disappointment, rather than a valiant performance.
“We didn’t do enough, it isn’t good enough,” Mills reasoned. “They are high standards at this football club and we’ve let ourselves down, we feel.”
“It’s a titanic effort from 13 fit players at the club to take Liverpool to the last five minutes. But there are high demands at this football club now and it’s just frustrating that we didn’t get over the line.”
After failing to take all three points last weekend against Wolves, talk of catching up with the play-off pack has cooled considerably on the terraces.
Wanderers remain capable, insists Mills, and will not give up the chase lightly.
“The manager took over we had five points and were nearly bottom of the league, so I think you’ve seen everything improve since he came in,” he said. “There is a team spirit and a willingness to fight to the end and we’ll certainly be doing that.
“Liverpool were fully aware they were in a tie. We’ve gone from bottom of the league to half way up in the time the manager has been here – you can only take positives from that.
“You know what the manager is like – we won’t be sitting back and thinking how well we did against Liverpool.
“There will be a determination to finish as high as possible and if we can finish in the play offs, then fantastic.”
Lennon added several players to the squad in the final week of the transfer window in an effort to get upwardly mobile in the table once again.
And Mills hopes their arrival can signal the start of another long unbeaten run.
“A few players came in this week and have looked sharp in training, so I’m looking forward to seeing how they integrate into the team.
“I think players want to come to this club now because of what the manager is doing and what the players are doing, so that bodes well for the future.
“From what I’ve seen in training the likes of Barry Bannan and Adam Le Fondre are looking sharp.
“If that opportunity comes then I’m sure they will be up for it.”
Source