Date: 20th January 2025 at 8:00am
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With Alex Neil now in the dugout at The Den, Millwall fans are expecting improved performances and results. Some shrewd signings will certainly enhance Neil’s chances of turning things around, though, with Millwall lacking in some key areas of the pitch. Not every addition is guaranteed to be a success, though, with some notable transfer flops turning out for the club over the years.

Like most clubs, Millwall have managed to obtain a number of forgetful signings during their existence. Some players were brought in to help with relegation scraps, others were acquired during promotion pushes, and some were signed during dull, uneventful campaigns where mid-table obscurity was secured. Ultimately, though, these players were snapped up in an attempt to improve performances and to progress their careers, but they simply failed to produce the goods.

Millwall fans will certainly remember some of the worst pieces of transfer business the club has conducted. Alex Neil will also be desperate to avoid such a disaster. With Millwall being priced at 20/1 to finish in the top 6 when looking at the latest football betting odds, the team clearly isn’t too far away from mounting a play-off push, although some fresh blood is required for fans to dream. As Millwall have experienced, though, not every signing is worth it.

So, with that in mind, below is a look at some of Millwall’s worst-ever signings.

Vasili Kulkov

Kicking things off with a player more senior members of the Millwall faithful will surely recall, Vasili Kulkov was a Russian professional footballer with decent pedigree having turned out for the likes of Spartak Moscow, Benfica, and Porto in the past. When the defensive midfielder joined the club in 1996, there was certainly an initial buzz surrounding his arrival. In time, though, it became obvious that Kulkov just wasn’t the player the club thought they were getting. Fitness issues blighted his career in England and he simply never managed to come back from it.

Special mention must also go to Sergei Yuran, another Russian footballer who struggled to adapt to life in England after sealing his dream move to the home of football. A manager these days with the likes of Khimki and SKA-Khabarovsk on his CV, Kulkov has since admitted that his move to Millwall was a big mistake. Speaking in 2012, he said: “In England, I gave in to my weaknesses and was soon punished for it. Seven or eight months were just crossed out of my career. Jimmy Nicholl even said that I was the most unprofessional player he’d ever met. And that was true.”

Dan Harding

Despite arriving at the club with a decent reputation, Dan Harding’s time at Millwall was nothing short of a disaster. Having joined the Lions as they attempted to come out on top in a Championship relegation battle, Harding failed to make a difference and the club were eventually relegated to League One. A player fans were initially excited by, Harding’s performances didn’t result in the club making a permanent move for him, with the defender eventually landing a deal with Eastleigh in the National League after his parent club, Nottingham Forest, released him from his contract.

Rob Hulse

The arrival of Rob Hulse made a lot of sense at the time. The target man had scored plenty of goals for both Leeds United and Derby County in his career, although Millwall evidently secured his services when he wasn’t at the peak of his powers. Thankfully, Hulse joined on-loan from Queens Park Rangers and was therefore not too much of a financial burden on the club, but it was still a painful transfer to witness. The forward made 15 appearances for Millwall and scored just one goal before being sent back to QPR earlier than agreed in April.

Stefan Maierhofer

In all fairness to Stefan Maierhofer, someone of his size would always stand out if they were failing to shine. The giant striker joined the club as a free agent in 2014, but he offered absolutely nothing during his spell in London. In 21 appearances, Maierhofer did manage to find the back of the net on three occasions, but his overall play was appalling. One of the worst strikers to have turned out for the club, the big Austrian didn’t last long before being released and going on to sign for Austrian club, Wiener Neustädter SC.

Josh McQuiod

A player now-Premier League side Bournemouth once thought highly of, Josh McQuiod was expected to succeed at Millwall. In the end, though, the attacker struggled to build on his performances for the Cherries and became under pressure from fans. Operating as a winger or up top, he arrived at the club for an undisclosed fee in 2011 but McQuiod only managed to find the back of the net once during his time at The Den. Eventually, Burnley saw something in Josh McQuiod and saved him from his Millwall nightmare, something the player himself has acknowledged.

On his time at Millwall, Josh McQuiod said: “It’s hard to take because when I went to Millwall, I was playing well but then I picked up an injury straight away. That was tough, as I was not getting in the team. There are a lot of good players at that level and if the team was playing well or struggling, it’s hard [for the manager] to put new players in.”

Nathan Tyson

 Ending with yet another attacking addition that simply failed to live up to his billing, Nathan Tyson had plenty of goals to his name when he arrived at Millwall. Fans from clubs like Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers seemed to rate him highly, but Millwall’s passionate fanbase never saw the very best of him. Tyson struggled to get into a rhythm due to persistent injury issues, with playing time becoming limited as a result. After failing to stay fit and deliver the goals Millwall so desperately required, Tyson returned to the Rams.

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