Shaggy splits

Last updated : 02 August 2006 By Charlie Roper
Matt Lawrence
Shaggy quits to become an Eagle
Millwall have parted company with former club captain Matt Lawrence after the defender agreed personal terms with Crystal Palace.

The 32-year-old, who lead Millwall out at the start of the 2004 FA Cup Final, joins The Eagles for an undisclosed fee to team up with his former centre-half partner at The Den, Darren Ward.

Shaggy joined The Lions in 2000 from Wycombe Wanderers and went on to win the club's Player of the Year award the following season during The Lions' run to the Second Divison Championship. Despite falling out with ex-boss Mark McGhee in 2002, the defender remained a populart character at the club and was given a new lease of life by Dennis Wise, who moved him from right back to centre half and gave him the captaincy when Kevin Muscat was injured in the FA Cup Semi-Final against Sunderland.

With the departure of David Livermore last week, Lawrence was the last first-teamer from the 2000/01 squad left at the club and his departure signals the end of an era for The Lions.