MILLWALL boss Gary Rowett delivered a "backwards step" claim as he shared his disappointment over Zak Lovelace's move to Rangers.
The teenager made the switch to join the Ibrox academy set-up after enjoying a breakout year at the Championship club.
Lovelace, 16, made four appearances for Millwall last season and became the second-youngest player in the club's history.
The Lions were keen to keep the youngster at the club but he decided to make the move to Rangers in the summer.
It's understood Millwall will receive a compensation fee for the signing, which is disappointing for Rowett who claims Lovelace has made a "backwards step".
Questioning the cross-border signing rules which can see players move for a fraction of a transfer fee, Rowett told South London Press: “People make decisions for reasons only they know.
“My opinion is that if you’re at a Championship club that value you so highly that they are prepared to put you on the bench – because they trust you, think you’re a good player and work on a plan to get you into the first-team this very season – it seems strange you take what looks a backward step for the next 18 months to two years.
“Rangers are a massive club. It’s not for me to judge why someone wants to join a club.
“I am disappointed with that one. I don’t have any grudges. It’s a disappointing system where you can work so hard with a player in the academy for so many years – put so much time and effort in – and it’s far easier to take a player from an English club to Scotland, and vice versa.
“Probably that needs to be looked at so the rules apply the same whether you are a Premier League club or an SPL club. Otherwise big clubs from each division are going to be pinching kids from cross border all the time.
"I don’t blame Rangers for doing that, or any other of the English clubs because they are seizing the opportunity. I don’t think it is healthy for academies, that’s what I would say.”
