Exclusive: Waghorn takes financial hit to force Millwall move
MARTYN Waghorn will take a financial hit to join Millwall on loan today.
The Leicester City striker was so eager to play for the Lions that he waived the appearance bonus in his contract to push through the three-month deal.
The move, which will be signed off after training this morning, would not otherwise have been possible.
Waghorn, who could be handed his first Millwall start against Derby County on Saturday, insisted last night that his decision to help with the finances was a no-brainer.
He said: "I did it because of my love for the game.
"I wanted to get back playing as quickly as possible; I could have waited two or three weeks for something else to pop up, or dragged out negotiations, but playing football is what I enjoy doing most.
"It is not all about the money – I have a short time to prove what I can do and I didn't have any second thoughts about it."
Manager Steve Lomas, who has been tracking Waghorn since July, when he had an offer to buy the 24-year-old turned down, added: "Martyn wants to play – money isn't everything.
"He needs to come here and prove what a good player he is. It's hard for anyone who trains every week but then doesn't play on a Saturday."
And Waghorn admitted the Lions' persistent interest in him, dating back to Kenny Jackett's tenure, had been flattering.
"A few other clubs were keen but Millwall wanted to get it done quickly as possible, and that was really important to me," he said. "They had shown a lot of interest and it was nice to feel really wanted.
"It has been a continuous thing with Millwall, they've always been in there and I'm glad to repay that by deciding to move here."
Jackett, now head coach at Wolves, saw a deal to sign Waghorn collapse on transfer deadline day earlier this month.
"Kenny was very keen to take me on loan last season and recently there has been some interest from him," the striker revealed.
"Once the window closed, I felt I needed a loan move to get my match sharpness back up to the levels I know I can reach when I'm getting a consecutive run of games.
"I always work hard for the team, but when I play two or three games in a row, I know that I'm going to score goals and create chances.
"I want to get back in the rhythm of playing three times a week and enjoying football again."
Waghorn has found opportunities limited at the King Power Stadium since the arrival of ex-Millwall loanee Chris Wood last January and has made just two substitute appearances so far this season.
He joined the Midlands side from Sunderland for £3million in 2010 but has started just 21 times in the league since then, scoring eight goals.
Lomas said: "Martyn has probably been quite frustrated during the last two years because of the situation at Leicester and the amount of strikers they've had.
"We have brought in a lot of experience so far, and now we want to mix that with a couple of young, hungry ones.
"He is a powerful, strong runner and he's left-sided as well, which is unusual for a striker. He is very good at set plays as well. For me he has got something to prove and that makes him dangerous."
Sounds like everyone is happy then!
Welcome to Millwall Martyn.
Good start, keep it up Waggie.
Welcome me ol son! You'll find out soon enough that you have joined the best supported team in the country. Bang em in & you'll have a read made place in folklore!
I think this lad is going to be a bit of a Chris Wood MK2 for us - shame there is absolutel Zero chance of us signing him perminantly!! We'll happily take 3 months of hard graft and hopefully 10 goals from him though!
@TheBermondseyBomber: Bomber lets hope is is a Martyn Waghorn MK 1 mate, this just goes to prove that professional footballers are not all greedy bar stewards, but it is a very small minority that are not.
I hope he fits in with us at the Den but he has started off on the right foot by taking a financial hit just to come to us, I think he will get a very good reception when gets on the pitch at the Den good on yer son.
@Barnlion: Oh don't get me wrong when referring to Wood I meant his goalscoring form for us! I take my hat off to this lad... taking a paycut to come to us speaks volumes about him!! COYL
@TheBermondseyBomber: Bomber, quite right mate not wood but similar and it makes you still have faith in pro footballers, the boy actually wants to play and not just sit on his ar** and draw a wage good for him.
@TheBermondseyBomber: agreed,lets all make a note not to s*** him off come January when he f**** of to a bigger side for more money,we'd all do it!welcome fella,score us some goals
and you'll love it here!!
welcome to the family wags,and good luck.
Well chuffed with this especially when I think of Hulse and Tyson last year.Really cant wait for Saturday.COYL.
At last a professional footballer who wants to play football irrespective of financial gain.I like you already Mr Waghorn, keep up with this attitude and it may rub off on others! COYL
He's halved his appearance bonus, let's not get carried away (-:~
Martyn Waghorn's first loan period was in 2008 when he scored on his loan debut for Charlton against........Derby County!! Omen??
Pleased and proud to have him on board - exactly the right attitude, now lets get behind him 110 per cent and convince him his long-term future is at The Den!!!
@Lonz: That won't happen mate, he's here for 3 months to show Leicester what he can do, there isn't a chance of us getting him perminantly!
Nice gesture, welcome to Millwall Martyn. COYL
This is really refreshing to read, modern day football sometimes just seems to be about players lining their pocket but this fella has given the dosh a swerve in order to play... This is exactly the type of attitude Wall fans expect and I'm happy he has come on board. The lad has commanded a £3m transfer fee so must have some skills... Hopefully he'll do the business, roll on Saturday!!!
Welcome to the party..... Lets make it happen Waggie!
Welcome on board WAGS tighten your seat belt cos we specelise in bumpy rides .Im share you know what your letting yourself infor ,,,,,,,,, Give us your all & we will be right behind you .Good luck for sat
&show us what you can do !!!!!!!!! C O Y L !!!!!!!!!
Good to hear and refreshing he is not motivated by financial gain. But I am certain all Millwall players are not motivated that way either. They all want to play in the first team. I hope some day those on the sidelines they will get their chance to prove themselves. Should be a good game this Saturday, I fancy a 2-0 win.
Just seen on the official site that all our strikers are doubtful with injuries for Saturday apart from Marquis.My excitement for the Derby match just took a massive kick in the nuts.
@wall2wall: I shouldn't worry too much, we've had our pick of forwards for the past six months and hardly a goal between them. To be honest, I'd be more optimistic if Marquis was injured too.
@Micky Lions: Made me chuckle Micky.Marquis deffo aint championship standard.We might have to do a Spain soon and dont play with any strikers.Might be hard to notice the difference going by the last 12 months.
We should have changed it from a appearance bonus to a win bonus. That wont cost us much
i am a bit tentative about this player as his recent scoring record isn't the best BUT and a big BUT i agree with lomas a young player that's got a point to prove that WANTS to play football that takes a wage cut to make it possible is only all positive i gotta feeling this could work out but if it does go really well we will probably lose him in january so it's kind of a poisoned chalice tbh but never the less welcome to millwall son smash them goals in starting saturday no pressure lol
@steveomfc5: Steveo, he only needs to score two goals and he will have the same amout as the rest of the first team squad put together mate, if he is a success and he goes in January, so be it he is not our player.
If he does manage to start our season and Lomas remembers that he also needs to cut our wage bill it might turn out to be a season where we have consolidated our position in this league for another season, and then "maybe" look to achieving something next term.
Saturday will be a big day for all the lads as we need to start to push on if they are to start to edge up the table and also keep SL in work, because there are 4 difficult games coming up and I would say that anything less at the very minimum we need 4 points but 6 it what they should be aming at.
@Barnlion: yeah but if he does what wood done then the last thing we want is him to leave so be it is definitely not what i would be saying but that's if he does the job like i say im a bit tentative about it but we will see , and yes we need to get rid of at least 4 players and quickly i think jb will have to cut his losses a bit and let em go for cheaper prices . i agree 4 points is a minimum requirement out of the next 2 games
He is taking a financial cut in order to further his career ( can't do that on Leicester's bench) ! Although it would be a nice touch of irony if he hit it off here and stayed around since we let them have the other bloke !!!!
Looks a decent signing!
Is it standard/do people think there'll be a restrictive clause in the loan contract which prevents him playing against Leicester? I see we have them on 30/11
@Tel, they have already stated he can't play !
@frank: oh really, though it would/could be the case...
I've seen him play a couple of times and he is like a Championship level Wayne Rooney! Always puts in a shift and can be explosive. Although i haven't seen him enough to know why he hasn't played more games or why it hasn't worked out at Leicester???? Jury's out, But Good Luck Martyn & Welcome To The Den
An ex-colleague of mine has been a Leicester season ticket holder for years, theis was his reply when I asked what he thought of him:
"Potentially very good. We had him on loan and he was immense - strong and great left foot. His delivery from corners are really good. We signed him perm and since then managers have come and gone as well as strikers and he has always been back up.
Will thrive if selected week in week out!"
Sounds like we should sign him up permanently before we polish up another bit of carbon into a shiny diamond !!
@Tel:
@Tel: Potentially very good says a lot about the team. It's probably the most valuable team on paper we've ever had, but there's several players who've fallen from grace with lots to prove.
This is FANTASTIC NEWS! Martyn Waghorn is gonna be a big big HIT!
Not sure he should be started straight away. McDonald was excellent at Brighton and i think he deserves to start again. My Starting 11 (Provided everyone's fit) would be.....
GK - Forde
RB - Osbourne CB - Shittu CB - Beevers LB - Lowry
CDM - Derry
CM - Bailey CM - Chaplow
RW - Henry ST - McDonald LW - Martin
Bench
Bywater
Robinson
Malone
Feeney
Trotter
Woolford
Waghorn
@James_SE16: Trotter will play he is one of our best and most inventive midfield players and I think will shine with all the recent good signings.
@Peckhamlad: perhaps with the competition for places trotter will be pushed harder,to show he wants to put in 100% every game not just when he feels like it.
This is who I'd play given the latest news-
Forde
Connolly Shittu Robinson Lowry
Henry Derry Bailey Chaplow
McDonald Waghorn
Subs Bywater Osborne Malone Beevers Trotter Woolford Feeney
@James_SE16:
@NICKOLA: I'm sure Scotty McD is injured mate
Got a slight knee problem but expect him to play.
@TheBermondseyBomber:
I agree that he's a good, creative player, but i think Lomas will ease him back to 100% fitness, and continue to start the players who have already been starting games this season!
Official site is stating that Keogh and McDonald have joined the injured list so unless he plays Marquis on his own Waggy will also go straight in.So much for a two week break.2 more players out.
Are we sure it's not a win bonus he's sacrificed ? playing for us , that makes sense !
seriously , sounds very positive again , we're gonna click soon and start picking up points.
Welcome Martyn and thanks for making us all aware that there still is some decent young talent out there that want to play football rather than pick up wages for keeping a bench warm. This could be a great move for us as a club and you as a striker. Gotta feeling he'll be a diamond if he gets a run and as it stands he may well get his wish. From what I have seen and heard over the years from mates who wear Anorak's he's very talented and and was on their wish list and Leicester supporters rate him highly. Will be there Saturday and can't wait to hopefully see our first win.
Need to show Lomas and the lads exactly how passionate and supportive we are for him and the players. 90 minutes of noise to really get the players ticking (although they should be already), Really don't wanna see the players getting s**g*d off if things go wrong at any time. COYL.
You just take care of those hamstrings Mr Waghorn, we can't afford another 93 day invalid.
"I think it will be good for all parties," Leicester manager Nigel Parson told BBC Radio Leicester.
"Waggy has been a little bit frustrated with his lack of opportunities and it is important for us that he gets out and plays some games.
"After 28 days we can potentially recall him."
@westlion:
Tell pearson from me to f#ck off and stay there !
@westlion: Yeah Clarke said the same about Wood but that turned out to be B@ll@cks!! but in other words he's saying "yeah Millwall can have him for the full 3 months if he's sh1te but if he does well we'll have him back after a month!" - either you want him or you dont you jumped up pr1ck!!