Released Millwall captain Shaun Hutchinson reveals playing plan and ‘unforgettable’ time with Lions

Shaun Hutchinson has revealed that his plan after leaving Millwall this summer is to find a club nearer to his native North-East.

The 34-year-old defender, who had been club captain of the Lions, will be a free agent at the end of June.

Hutchinson has played more than 250 matches for the South London club since signing from Fulham nine years ago.

His first campaign with Millwall saw them win promotion from League One via the play-offs in 2017.

“I definitely want to keep playing,” Hutchinson told the South London Press. “I know I get a few knocks here and there, but I know my body well and feel like I’m in pretty good condition.

“I’ve not featured much this year but I’ve always been there, training week in and week out in training. The big thing for me is that I want to play closer to home – be nearer the family in the North-East. I’ll be starting in the North-East and then filtering out from there to see what move I can get up there.

“It has been a long time coming, since I left home to come back home. That’s the next plan.”

Hutchinson headed south with Fulham in 2014 and then made the switch to Millwall two years later after becoming a free agent.

“I couldn’t have envisaged it going any better to be fair,” said the Geordie. “My family have all been down here and Millwall is really close to them and my friends. My kids have all got their kits – they sing the songs – it’s been such a big part of my career and my life that I’ll never forget.

“I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. I really enjoyed it. I know you win games and lose games but there are very, very few lows, really. You have got the tragic deaths to Mati (Sarkic) and John (Berylson) but in terms of actual football, the football club and performance-wise, it has been a pretty successful time.

“I’m proud that I’ve been part of such a really good time.”

See next week’s South London Press for a full interview with Hutchinson.