Le Fondre hints at Rotherham United exit

Le Fondre is wanted by a host of clubs after hitting 25 of the goals which have taken the Millers into this season's League Two play-offs.

If the Millers do secure promotion, it will also be a case of third time lucky for the striker who failed in the play-offs in 2008 and 2009 with former club Rochdale.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's semi-final first leg at Aldershot Town, Le Fondre said: "Everyone knows that I want to play at the highest level. I can't promise anything. I have loved my time at this club and it has not only been beneficial for me but also beneficial for Rotherham United. Hopefully, the season can end in success."

The Millers have had to settle for the play-offs after dropping out of the top three with eight games to go. Four consecutive defeats, including a 3-0 loss at Aldershot, put paid to any hopes of automatic promotion.

After the disappointment of his previous two seasons, when Rochdale lost a final to Stockport County and a semi-final to Gillingham, Le Fondre is understandably anxious to avoid further heartbreak.

"We should have gone up automatically at Rochdale last season but we faltered towards the end, a bit like we have done this season," he said. "We went into the play-offs in terrible form and a couple of errors proved costly.

"Against Stockport (in 2008), we were outplayed but we were also without one of our best players, David Perkins, who had been sent off in the semi-final.

"We have had chances to cement a top-three spot this season but we fluffed it," he said. "If we don't get promoted now, it will be a massive bodyblow considering the way we started the season.

"If I score the goals that seal promotion it will be great but I don't want to be looking back in a few years time saying that I have been in these games and not won anything."

Manager Ronnie Moore opted to rest Le Fondre for the final league game at Hereford United last weekend. It was a move that stressed the importance of the 23-year-old to the club but provoked mixed emotions for the player.

"Although I was a bit disappointed to be rested, you have to take it as a compliment if the manager feels you are that important to the team," he reflected. "I would like to be going into the play-offs in better form and felt I might have been able to get on the scoresheet last weekend but the gaffer felt he couldn't afford to take the risk of me getting injured."

Le Fondre has scored a total of 28 goals in all competitions this season but has not scored from open play in his last 11 appearances.

Assessing possible reasons for his current dry spell, he said: "We have needed to grind out a lot of games in the last few weeks so there have not been as many chances. And I don't feel I am getting as many balls into the box as I was when I was scoring regularly and that also means I am tending to drift out wider.

"I am not the quietest player at the club either so, when I am not happy with something, I tell people," he admitted. "But, as I am coming in from the left, I have been winning penalties.

"Overall, I am really pleased with the season. It has been the best of my career for scoring goals but I won't rest on my laurels. I came here with a reputation and I want to keep building on that.

"I have been to Wembley and I want to go back. If you could guarantee winning promotion at Wembley, that has to be the best way to do it."

The Millers still have around two thirds of their 1,100 allocation of tickets for the second leg at Aldershot available priced 17, 13, and 6 for standing areas, and 19, 15, and 8 seating.