VANCOUVER, BC – Kenny Miller is staying with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
That was the word following a training session on Thursday at the University of British Columbia, as both the player and his coach poured cold water on rumors which first appeared in British newspapers this week that he was set for a return to fallen Scottish giants Rangers FC.
“I’m contracted to Vancouver until the end of the season,” Miller told reporters. “It’s as simple as that. My focus in the last six weeks has been to get fit and get back on that field and help us produce results, firstly hopefully [next] Wednesday night by winning the [Amway Canadian Championship].
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“So that’s been my sole aim in the last few weeks. Obviously you can’t control what’s said or written by other parties, but for me, I’ve been firmly focused on getting back on the field for Vancouver.”
The rumor of Miller’s return to Rangers has bounced around from time to time over the last few months, especially after the veteran striker's poor start to MLS life with just two goals from 13 league appearances after making his move from English Championship side Cardiff City in 2012.
This week, however, things really started swirling on Monday as the Scottish Sun reported Miller would be joining the team “within 72 hours.”
Then Miller’s longtime friend and former teammate Kris Boyd – who played for the Portland Timbers in 2012 – did his pal no favours by telling the Evening Times that, “Kenny's made his decision and he wants to come back home. He'll do well for Rangers.”
When informed of Boyd’s comments, Miller said he’d “give him a phone tonight,” but admitted he does keep in regular contact with his friend.
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“I speak to Kris every other week through text message or on the phone,” Miller said. “But regards to that particular rumor, no, I haven’t spoken to him about that."
“It’s just an example of another rumor, and [due to the club’s transfer embargo] it couldn’t have ever been true,” Vancouver head coach Martin Rennie said. “It’s just something you deal with all the time, and that’s a story that’s come and gone a lot over the past few months.”
