Nance expects no favour from his former protégé
AFORMER Plymouth Argyle youth product who was coached by Kevin Nancekivell at a young age will be among the opposing players standing between the Pilgrims and crucial Championship points in south London tomorrow.
Ryan Leonard is likely to line up for Millwall against his hometown club at The Den and he knows Nancekivell, who is currently in temporary charge of Argyle with director of football Neil Dewsnip, from when he was a teenager.
Leonard was released by the Pilgrims following the 2010/11 season after making only one first team appearance but has gone on to have a successful career playing for Southend United, Sheffield United and, since 2018, Millwall.
He made his 29th Championship start of the season for the Lions when he played at right-back as they won 1-0 at Sunderland last Saturday to secure their Championship safety. Nancekivell said: “I speak to Ryan every now and then. I coached him when he was aged 13, 14 and 15.”
Nancekivell began his coaching career in Argyle’s youth set-up and worked alongside Leonard’s father, Dave. The pair were also team-mates at Tiverton Town, including in the 1999 FA Vase final victory over Bedlington Terriers at Wembley.
“I know Ryan’s dad, played with his dad and worked with his dad in the academy. I know the family well. Ryan has done brilliant, he has had a fantastic career and he’s a big player for Millwall. I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
Millwall, and Leonard, will be looking to complete the double over Argyle this season. The 31-year-old played the whole game for the Lions when they won 2-0 at Home Park in October after goals from Zian Flemming and George Saville.
Gary Rowett was the Lions’ boss that night but he was sacked later in the month and replaced by 37-yearold former Chelsea assistant manager Joe Edwards, but his tenure was a short one.
After four wins from 19 games, Millwall parted company with Edwards and brought back their former striker and boss Neil Harris to The Den from League One outfit Cambridge United. He has gone on to guide to the Lions to a record of six wins, two draws and three defeats in 11 matches.
Argyle are 20th in the Championship, just two points clear of the relegation zone, going into their penultimate match of the season, and looking for a big improvement on their showing in the 3-0 defeat at Steven Schumacher’s Stoke City last weekend.
Nancekivell said: “It’s as big as it gets, everybody realises what’s at stake. We are desperate to get the points and get back home so looking forward to it.
“I’m expecting Millwall to be Millwall. Knowing Neil and his staff I don’t think they will take their foot off the pedal at all just because they have reached safety. Millwall is a tough place to go anytime. They are in a rich vein of form so we are in for a really tough game, we are aware of that.”
Nancekivell used the words ‘determined’ and focused’ when asked what the mood had been like in training this week. “Obviously there was a little bit of disappointment when we came in on Monday (after losing to Stoke) but that’s to be expected. That was soon brushed away by Monday lunchtime and we have just focused on Millwall and what we can do. So positive, bright and keen to get going.”