Millwall loanee Allan Campbell leaves Luton Town and why promotion to the Championship could be slow

There is an old adage that rankings don’t lie. But Allan Campbell can attest that it doesn’t mean much in mid-September.

The new contract with Millwall is an important factor in helping Luton Town win promotion to the Premier League in May.

But at this time last season, after 5 matches, the Bedfordshire team ranked 19th in the Championship standings and had 5 points in the standings.

While Sheffield United, who are leading at this stage, went on a 46-match journey to secure the second automatic promotion spot, Watford and Reading – who finished second and third respectively – did not. The team were then relegated to League One, a deduction of six points saw them dropped.

Millwall sit 12th and are just three points behind Hull City and Norwich, in fifth and sixth respectively, as they go into Sunday’s home game against Leeds United.

“It would be foolish to look at who is first and second and expect them to go straight,” Campbell told South London Press. “There’s a lot of football to play.

“It’s about being consistent and trying to win football games – don’t get ahead of yourself. “Everything can change in two matches in the Championship. You know how it is – it’s non-stop. We have to focus on next season and see where we will be at the end of the season.

Glaswegian Campbell have reached the play-offs in each of the last two seasons. Luton were beaten 2-1 on aggregate by Huddersfield in 2022, but reached the last 16 a year later, overcoming Sunderland 3-2 over two legs before winning in a penalty shoot-out 6-5 against Coventry City at Wembley.

Campbell was an unused substitute against the Sky Blues, along with former Wimbledon goalkeeper James Shea, but insisted not being at the national stadium did not spoil the moment. “I would have loved to have come on as a substitute, but the way the game went didn’t make sense to me,” the 25-year-old said.

“I played a huge part in getting the team there – I think I started most games all season so that doesn’t take anything away. It was a team game and I’m still part of the team – I’m happy for everyone who played and contributed.

“I stay on the sidelines to support and be available if needed.

“It was absolutely worthy of my debut in Scotland. That’s quite an achievement considering the size of the club and competing with some of the budgets other Championship teams have.

“In my first season, I went to England and we were beaten in the play-offs. It’s a terrible feeling knowing you’re so close to the final. I played well last season. It was great to see the fans running around the park celebrating (at Kenilworth Road after beating Sunderland). You never know, maybe I’ll experience a few more moments like this in the future.

Millwall were interested in Campbell when he was at Motherwell, who he joined at the age of 10. He scored 16 goals in 159 appearances for Well, including 24 appearances for Scotland U21.

Luton agreed an undisclosed fee in June 2021. Campbell is out of contract but must pay compensation because he is under 24 years old.

Campbell had not played professional football this season before coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in Millwall’s 1-1 draw with Birmingham City just before the international break. He was nominated