Ian Miller speaks to the Quaker matchday magazine. This article was orginally printed in the Darlington v Lincoln City programme on September 15th.

Defender Ian Miller is in his second loan spell with Quakers and despite the offer to head over to fellow League Two side Brentford it seems that there are few other places the Ipswich Town man would rather be than back in the North East. Five hours from home Miller may well be but his first spell with Darlington clearly had a lasting impact on the twenty-three year old.

Over the summer Darlington added the experienced pairing of Alan White and Stephen Foster at the back to help shore up the defence. Even with the introduction of the former Notts County and Scunthorpe United duo manager Dave Penney still kept a close eye on Miller and bought him back on the eve of the new season.

"Ipswich gave me the opportunity of either going to Brentford, staying there or coming here. Dave Penney was a nice enough manager to speak to me once I left here come the end of last season. He has kept tabs on me throughout the summer and checking my progress," said Miller.

"The way I got treated here by, the lads, the training facilities, the coaching staff and everyone else was brilliant. I wouldn't have gone anywhere else. I could have learnt a lot from Terry Butcher at Brentford but at the end of the day I am not the sort of person who will just go an hour down the road because it is easier."

"I felt I had a bit of unfinished business when I came back. I think the crowd this time around has been a lot better. When I first signed I spoke to some of the players and they said it was like playing a reserve team game. When I walked out there against Wrexham on the first day of the season all the fans were excellent. If we can keep the same position in the league then that will only continue to get better," continued Miller.

Ipswich allowed Miller's loan spell to be extended at the end of August until beyond the Christmas period. It was a welcome boost but during his first month back at Darlington Miller made just one start. The opening day performance against Wrexham was a typically polished affair from Miller but the competition for places at the back was such that the former Bury Town player still found himself back on the bench.

Normally loan players are expected to play regularly for the teams they join. Penney has already stated he does not feel pressured to play the young defender who fully appreciates the situation and is ready to work like the permanent members of the Darlington squad to try and hold down a regular starting birth. With so many games between now and the end of the loan agreement in January Miller will undoubtedly get his chance to shine.

"As a club Ipswich obviously send players out to get first team experience and I've come to Darlington and had to work for a place. I started against Wrexham but other than that I had to take my place on the bench during the first month. I think players understand that and it is just a case of getting my head down, working and proving to the manager that I should be starting games," said Miller.

"I came here at the end of last season and played along with three other loan players at the back. It is a little bit different in terms of circumstances but that is where I want to be - playing week in, week out and getting the sort of results we had when I was here last."

"The gaffer has told me that there is a first team place available here whereas I've never really been told that at Ipswich. I have been lucky to have a taste of things here and I want more of it. I wouldn't have extended my loan if I thought I was just a squad player because as much as the squad is important within football you have to think of yourself in terms of this is my career. If I am happy to just sit on the bench I am not going to get anywhere in life," continued the defender.

As far as Ipswich is concerned Miller has been told he has a future at Portman Road. However the defender realises he has to put the work in to make that future happen. "Jim (Magilton) has told me I am in his long term plans. It is just a case of waiting and seeing but I can't rest on my laurels because he has said that. I've got to make it happen by playing well here. I have come from non-league football and this is a million miles way. A couple of years ago I was playing in front of only a couple hundred people. This is all new to me but I think it will give me the drive to progress onwards," said Miller.

Kevin Luff