Richard Chaplow has wasted no time in getting next season sorted out as he rejoins Millwall.
Richard Chaplow has once again left St Mary's, after agreeing that he would have his contract cancelled by mutual consent, no small matter in the fact that he would almost certainly have been on far higher money at Saints than he can get elsewhere, he was now able to negotiate a deal elsewhere and he has done so in rejoining Millwall, the club he spent time with on loan last season.
Chaplow originally joined Saints on loan in February 2006 from West Bromwich Albion, he made 11 starts for the club and scored 1 goal before injury curtailed his time at the Club.
After leaving the Baggies he then spent 3 years with Preston before once again coming back South in September 2010, initially on loan before making the move permanent in January 2011, playing a big part in our promotion from League 1 starting 25 games plus 5 as sub and chipping in with 4 goals.
His return to the Championship with Saints didnt start well, in the second game of the season he was sent off at Barnsley only minutes after coming on as sub, but he would soon return to the side after a three match ban and although injury again ruled him out for 10 weeks just as he was hitting his top form, he again bounced back and made 23 appearances in the league and weighed in with 3 goals as his return saw Saints soar back to the Premier league.
But the return to the top flight for Chaplow was a step too far, chances of a game were few and far between, a solitary minute on as sub at Everton, 28 minutes at home to Fulham and 23 minutes in the great fightback at Chelsea being his only chances of action and although he let no one down in those appearances you sensed that he wouldnt get much of a look in and it was no surprise when he went to Millwall on loan in March of this year.
His time at the New Den would be brief, only a month and 4 games before he picked up an injury that finished his season along with the chance of a Wembley appearance in the FA Cup semis, however he had done enough to make the Lions take notice and it seems that he was willing to take a pay cut in order to get regular football.
Richard Chaplow was always popular with the fans at Saints be it in his first spell or the much longer second, he appeared to love us too judging by his comments on twitter in the past few days, so good luck to Richard in his future career, and he is assured a warm welcome whenever he returns to the clus.
Career Stats for Saints
2005/06
11 league starts (0) 1 goal
Sep 2010- May 2013
44 League Starts (17) 7 Goals
3 FA Cup 1 Goal
5 League Cup 1 goal