He has been a leading figure
in the rise from League Two to Championship survival and now skipper Craig
Morgan wants to help Rotherham become a force in the second tier – but only if
he feels valued.
The 29-year-old centre-half
is out of contract in the summer and the Millers were reluctant to discuss
fresh terms until they knew what division they would be in next season.
After his performances this
season, marshalling the Millers defence and leading them to safety, the
question of whether Morgan is worthy of a new deal is a no-brainer.
And now that their place in
the Championship has been guaranteed the two parties can get down to the nitty-gritty of the contract discussions.
Being in limbo for the last
few months has allowed the former Wales international to put himself in the
shop window, boosting his negotiating power, and he has received contact from
several other clubs.
But it is at the New York
Stadium where Morgan’s heart lies and he wants to be at the forefront of an era
where the Millers try and establish themselves as a second-tier outfit.
However, that will only
happen if he gets the right offer.
“In fairness I have always
been told that the club weren’t willing to do anything until they knew what
division they were in,” Morgan said.
“I have respected that. It’s
left me in a situation where I feel like I have done well, clubs have made
contact with my representatives, but I want to stay at Rotherham United.
“I will express my feelings
during the week. The gaffer, chairman and chief executive want to sit down with
me.
“I am not asking for the
world, if it’s right I want to be at Rotherham United, I feel like I fit here.
“I don’t always feel like
moving is the best option, I have done that before and it hasn’t worked.
“I am settled here, I like
what it’s about, I enjoy being captain.
“I am captain of the football
club and I have always said if the offer in front of me is in keeping with the
football club then I will happily sign it tomorrow.
“If it’s not and they want to
go down a different road then I have to look at other opportunities because it
is my last big contract that I am going to be able to earn so I have to look
after my family."
Morgan was there winning
headers against Dagenham, he was there clearing danger at Shrewsbury and this
season his was there making tackles at Watford.
Having been so integral in
all three achievements the last three years have brought – two promotions and
now safety – he is no doubt what the biggest of those is.
“Staying up feels good, I
have said before I think it is a better achievement than going up twice I think
because of the quality in the division,” he added.
“In a way it feels like we
have had to do it twice, it certainly feels like we have had to work hard for
it.
“After drawing with Norwich,
knowing we would have been safe if they hadn’t taken the three points, it would
have been easy for the team to use that as an excuse.
“But what we have proved over
the years is that that’s not what we’re about. We don’t make excuses, if we’re
not good enough of the day we’ll come out and say it.
“When you come into the
Championship, you realise the Premier League are squashing their squads each
year and they’re filtering down and it’s getting better and better.
“How many teams in the
Championship have played in the Premier League?
“It’s nothing to be sniffed
out, this league is majorly hard, it’s not easy and anyone who is going to kid
themselves by thinking it will be easier next year is wrong.
“It’s going to be difficult
next year again.
“We don’t want to be thinking
about next year just yet but you have to move on, you have to push on, the
clubs in it are massive and the players in it are very good.
“It can’t be under-estimated
what we have achieved, especially with the three points coming off.”
So what got Evans’ men over
the survival line in the end?
Morgan reckons the answer is in the
club’s name.
“What I’d say about the group
of players is that I am honoured to lead them,” he added.
“It’s such a good group, even
the players that have come in, they have fitted in so well and if they haven’t they
have been shifted out.
“It’s important when you are
a small club in a big league, you have to stay united and together.
“We might not have had the
individuals that some teams have, but you have to be 11 people or 14 from the
bench all pulling in the same direction.”
