Swindon’s Celtic connection left Wembley dejected tonight as Millwall celebrated promotion to The Championship.
After a marathon 49 games campaign Simon Ferry, Scott Cuthbert and Jon-Paul McGovern were left with nothing tangible to show for their efforts as Paul Robinson’s first half goal earned Millwall a return to the second tier of English football.
The pain of defeat will take some time to sink in but all three players could well be playing at a higher level next season.
Ferry has indicated that he’d be happy to sign a permanent deal to stay at Swindon but after making over 40 appearances to silence any question marks over his futures Celtic can expect to receive offers from Championship clubs for the midfielder.
A return to Celtic can’t be ruled out but unless a very definite first team opportunity opens up Ferry is likely to move on rather than wait around behind Scott Brown and any combination of Landry N’Guemo, Mark Crosas and Ki Sung Yueng for a first team chance.
Similarly Cuthbert is likely to be in demand offering Swindon a quick profit on the £100,000 that they paid to Celtic last summer for the centre-half’s signature.
Cuthbert partnered Darren O’Dea in the Celtic youth side and now has two seasons of experience behind him after spending last season on loan at St Mirren.
Swindon will take some consolation from the example of Millwall who lost out to Scunthorpe in last season’s play-off final although next season’s promotion race will be as competitive as ever with Southampton and Charlton likely to be amongst the favourites alongside relegated Sheffield Wednesday.
“Of course we’ve got to take the positive of it, it can be done,” said Swindon boss Danny Wilson referring to Milwall’s example.
“I’m sad for the fans that have come out to support us and of course for the players. When you get here you do try to finish it off but unfortunately it’s not happened for us today.
“It’s been a long old season and to go out at the final hurdle is hard to take, but I think you have to have some kind of humility and the players at Millwall were in this position last year.
“Let’s be honest, they felt how we’re feeling today. So you have to say well done to them.”
The season that never stopped continued in Dublin yesterday where Darren O’Dea and Cillian Sheridan featured as substitutes in Ireland’s 3-0 win over Algeria.
Home wins over two World Cup finalists will provide no consolation for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side who will watch in anger as France take part in the South African Finals.
The experienced Italian, an unlikely mentor should Neil Lennon be appointed permanent manager of Celtic, is turning his attention to the Euro 2012 campaign which will see him go head to head with Dick Advocaat.
The former Rangers boss was in Dublin last night to watch the win over Algeria which featured goals from Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane in his 99th international appearance.
Ireland begin their qualifying campaign away to Armenia on September 3 and host the Russians on October 8.
Thought the Celts and Ex Celts were poor. Millwall fully deserved to win.
It’s a big big occassion and sometimes that gets to the players and they freeze-perhaps indicative of their loan and transfer status. Hopefully all three will go onto bigger and better things with their respective futures. Hail Hail.
Poor display from the entire Swindon team….poor game really….
best wishes to the Celtic boys …hope their careers get sorted out soon….
Mike,
The game had a strange almost addictive quality about it. Like looking for a pound in mud.