RYAN Tunnicliffe has had talks with Neil Harris over his future – but the midfielder doesn’t know if he will be a Millwall player next season.
Tunnicliffe, 26, has recently regained his place in the side, making his 50th Lions appearance against Brighton in the FA Cup.
Former Manchester United player Tunnicliffe joined after leaving Fulham in the summer of 2017, signing a two-year contract.
He found himself behind Shaun Williams and George Saville in Harris’ plans last season, and this season didn’t start a league game after the signing of Ryan Leonard until December against Bristol City, when Leonard was suspended.
An injury to Williams then gave him a chance to cement his first-team place, and he scored the only goal of the game against Nottingham Forest on December 29.
Tunnicliffe lost his place in the side again when Williams returned, but he has kept Millwall’s third-choice captain out of the team for the last two league games.
Tunnicliffe is one of a number of Lions players out of contract this summer, and admits the uncertainly over which division the club will be in next season could affect whether he is offered a new deal.
Millwall are just a point above the drop zone.
“I’ve always said I’ve got to get into the team, try to do as well as I can to keep my place and then stuff like that comes,” Tunnicliffe said.
“Regarding a contract, I don’t know what the manager is thinking. I spoke to him a few weeks back but the club is trying to stay in the league so I guess he doesn’t want to make any decisions at the moment when the future is not clear.
“Hopefully I’ll stay in the team, do well and force him to make a decision to offer me a new deal.”
Tunnicliffe admits he wants to continue playing in the Championship.
He added: “It’s where I’ve played all my career. Everyone wants to be playing at the highest level they can but, honestly, I’m not really thinking about going down.
“We need to win however many games to keep Millwall in the league, that’s the priority at the moment. Hopefully I’ll have played well enough to earn a new deal.”
Image: Millwall FC