Millwall legend Steve Morison explains how Leeds exit came about

Steve Morison has spoken about how his loan move to Millwall came about in 2013, just two years after leaving to sign for Norwich City.

The former Wales international made 335 appearances for the Lions and scored 92 goals over three spells.

Speaking to Millwall’s official podcast, Wall Talk, Morison said: “I was injured when I joined Leeds, I didn’t play for the first three-four weeks. But I came in and scored on my debut.

“I started off alright at Leeds, but then I had a few struggles with my groin. I wasn’t doing myself any favours at all. Then that summer, Brian McDermott came in [as new manager of Leeds].

“On the first day of pre-season, McDermott turned around and said: ‘I want you to leave, because I want to bring Noel Hunt in’. I’d signed a three-and-a-half-year deal, but he said because there’s not enough money to have you both, you need to go. He said ‘are you going to be in training tomorrow?’, and I said ‘no, you don’t want me here’.

“I rang John Berylson direct and told him I can leave Leeds on loan, do you fancy taking me? They sorted it all out and I drove straight down the M1 to The Den.

“I came back to Millwall, but I was struggling with my injury still, I was just pleased we stayed up.”

Morison did return to the Lions on a permanent basis in the summer of 2015 and would go on to stay for another four years, before leaving in 2019 to join Shrewsbury Town on loan.