Cahill concern over new Den future

Tim Cahill fears he is being forced out by Millwall after the collapse of his £2m (€3m) transfer to Crystal Palace.

The 24-year-old’s proposed move across London hit a snag at the weekend when Palace chairman Simon Jordan claimed Cahill’s advisors were demanding £125,000 (€187,400) for the transfer to go ahead.

But Cahill insists he rejected the deal himself, and has spoken out against his treatment by the Lions, who are currently on a pre-season tour of Canada without him.

Millwall claim Cahill left them with no choice but to sell a player who could leave for nothing in a year’s time and has not signed a new contract.

But in a statement issued through his advisors SFX, Cahill said: “Given the amount of press surrounding my move to Crystal Palace, I felt I wanted to set the record straight.

“I’ve been at Millwall eight years and, whilst I’m in the final year in my contract, I’m very happy at the football club.

“I was informed by my chairman Theo Paphitis the club had accepted a transfer offer from Crystal Palace and I was given permission to speak with them.

“I met with Crystal Palace officials along with my agent and after lengthy discussions and having thought about the move over the weekend with my family and advisors I decided that the transfer was not the right thing for me.

“It is simply untrue that agent fees prevented the transfer from going ahead and I am very disappointed that this has been reported as the reason for the move breaking down.

“I would like the Millwall fans to know that I’ve never asked to leave the club and with the prospect of UEFA cup football this season there are exciting times ahead.

“I also want to make it clear that I’ve never been offered or turned down a new contract at Millwall.

“Having given the club eight years’ service, I do not want to be forced to leave if the situation is not right for me or my family. I hope now this matter can be closed and we can move on.”

Millwall have already signed Jody Morris as the Australian international’s replacement and he appears to have no future at the club following a statement from Paphitis last week.

It read: “Tim has been a great servant but has increasingly made us aware of his desire to move on.

"We believe he could have realised his dreams of Premiership football with Millwall but clearly that is not something we can offer him this season.”

With Millwall seemingly unwilling to budge, Cahill could become the subject of renewed interest from Charlton and Everton, who have both courted the midfielder in recent weeks.