‘I know the fans will want me to say it was a tough decision’ – Millwall boss on Ben Thompson’s departure

Gary Rowett has opened up on Ben Thompson’s departure from the club – with the Millwall boss admitting that he “didn’t think it was fair” for the club to prevent the midfielder from going elsewhere to play first-team football.

Thompson came through the ranks in SE16 and clocked up 175 appearances for the Lions, notching 12 goals.

But the 26-year-old has found himself out of favour at the Den recently and had only tasted 46 minutes of league action this term.

Thompson signed a deal until the end of the season with Gillingham just hours after his contract with the Lions was cancelled by mutual consent on deadline day.

He follows former Millwall boss Neil Harris in making the move to Kent.

And Rowett gave his verdict on Thompson’s departure after Tuesday night’s stalemate with Preston.

“I know the fans will want me to say that it was a tough decision because of what he means to the football club and I get that,” said the Lions boss.

“I’ve probably had two or three good sitdowns with Thommo, he’s expressed a desire all the way along, he’s said first and foremost, he wants to play for Millwall. Of course he does, he’s a Millwall fan and he’s had such a good time at the club. But he wants to play football. He wanted to do that and I didn’t think it was fair for us to stand in his way.

“I had the same conversation in the summer with him and they weren’t able to find the right club at that point.

“This time, there was an opportunity with Neil going into Gillingham and we wish him all the best.

“You want to see him on a football pitch, not out of the squad. That’s what happens.

“We’ve tried to move in a slightly different way and we wish him all the best. He’s a fabulous player.”