Millwall boss Rowett on Zoom call with new signing Charlie Cresswell…and Leeds United’s defender’s dad

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has revealed that part of the discussions over Charlie Cresswell’s loan move saw him on a Zoom call with the Leeds United defender’s dad Richard.

Cresswell senior was a team-mate of the Lions boss when they were at Leicester City.

Millwall did a presentation outlining how they saw the England U21 international slotting into their set-up as well as outlining what they expected from the player with Rowett joined by Alex Aldridge, director of football operations and recruitment.

Cresswell sealed his season-long loan switch to the Lions on Monday.

“Leeds allowed us to do a Zoom with Richard and Charlie,” Rowett told the South London Press. “I think Richard acts on his behalf of his son, I’m not sure if he’s officially his agent. It was a really good chat. Part of it was me and him being horrified that we were talking about signing his son – it didn’t seem like more than five minutes ago we were playing together! It shows how quick time flies.

“Knowing his dad and the character he had, you can see that in the lad as well. He’s been brought up really well with a real hunger for work-rate. He’s an aggressive boy who wants to fight, I think that’s why Millwall was something they were very, very keen on even though they had some very good other options.

“I think they potentially saw the progress Dan Ballard made and also the fact they know myself and the likes of Paul Robinson. You know he is coming to people who are going to look after the player – try and work with him. I don’t think it played a massive factor in Charlie signing, but it’s always nice when you know people at the club.

“A loan player wants to know they’ll get a fair chance and what you’re offering is actually what it says on the tin – not just to try and get the player into our club. He’s not going to be our player at the end of it, he’s going to be Leeds’ player, so we’ve got to do the best job we can along the way.”

Cresswell senior was also part of Leeds’ academy set-up for a spell while his son was coming through the junior ranks.

There have been plenty of sons who have followed their dad’s into the sport – one example being Tom Ince, the son of England international and former Manchester United and Inter Milan midfielder Paul.

So does that make it harder to develop?

“It’s very different for every player,” said Rowett. “If your dad is a Champions League winner and played for Manchester United for 10 years then I’m sure there is more pressure than the likes of myself and Richard, who have had good careers but you can go out in public without getting too much hassle.

“It’s more about the person’s character. Richard was an excellent team-mate, a really good player – one who wanted to be the best he could and seemed to be pretty low maintenance, just got on with it and sorted out issues himself.

“Then you’re signing a player that comes from that background – there’s no guarantee, everyone is individual – but we’re all shaped by our parents.

“Charlie is a very good player in his own right. He’s already played for Leeds in the Premier League and already played for England U21s. He is really highly-regarded. Even in the first couple of days of training he has put a few of the lads on their backsides – at 19 years old that takes a bit of confidence and strength.

“He’s got a really lovely range of passing as well which again will help us to build in a different way at times.”