Millwall boss gives his verdict on Shaun Williams making Portsmouth move

Gary Rowett is pleased that Shaun Williams will get to say a proper goodbye to Millwall fans in August.

The experienced Irish midfielder signed for Portsmouth last week.

And the Lions have been drawn at home against the South Coast club in the EFL Cup first round.

“It is a great signing for Portsmouth,” Rowett told the South London Press. “Someone who knows League One and played in the Championship last season. He has still got a real hunger to want to go and play. You could see last season that he can still play to the level.

“I dropped Willo a text yesteday, just to say congratulations, and he replied: ‘See you in a couple of weeks’.

“It will be a nice one for Willo. Anyone who has left a club they have been at for a long time hasn’t had the satisfaction of being able to say thanks or bye to the fans. But hopefully the fans will be back for this one.

“I’m sure Willo is coming back to try and win, but he also gets to come back and experience the atmosphere again – albeit as a Portsmouth player. I hope he does really well there.

“If you look at cup draws and grade them in terms of difficulty, then Portsmouth are about as tough as it gets at League One level. But you don’t look at games like that. It is the second game of the season and we’ll be keen to win some games and build a bit of momentum. It will be a good game for us.”