The central defender came on loan from Southampton in 2004 after another loanee Dean Leacock was injured but his inexperience was exposed in a home defeat to Ipswich when he scored a farcical own goal. Mills played only four first team games in three years as a pro at Southampton but enjoyed a successful loan spell at Bournemouth. In January 2006 he signed for Manchester City but played only two Premiership games before going out on loan, first to Colchester and later to Doncaster. He was a regular in the latter’s promotion challenge last season and starred in the Wembley Play-off victory over Leeds in May. 

Own goals (1)
2004-05
3 October 2004 v Ipswich Town H, Championship