The Lion Roars Diary - April 2008

29th April - IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THE MESSAGEBOARD
The TLR messageboard has again run into problems, it could well be due to the sheer weight of passionate postings from 'Wall fans in this rollercoaster of a season so it's something we'll have to look at during the Summer. For now we have a temporary forum while we attempt to fix the old one, the problem is, you'll have to re-register...

...Tony Craig is recalled by palace. Many expect him to return to The Den at some stage in the summer.

27th April After the incredibly vital win, all the talk is about Neil Harris and the potential of a contract extension. Most hope he will stay, but a similar amount agree the talk should be about what the club can do to keep Jay Simpson. Harris tells anyone willing listen, how desperate he is to stay.

26th April Millwall 3 Carlisle United 0: In by far and away the best performance of the season, a Neil Harris inspired Lions side rip the promotion hunters apart, in a game that could have ended with a double figures win. Harris set up Simpson, then converted a penalty that he cheekily bought off Carlisle captain Danny Livesey (and got him sent off), and then set up Craig for the relegation survival victory...

...A relieved Kenny Jackett says afterwards, "We played very well but I felt a win like that had been coming. We've played well in other games but not scored but we got the goals at the right time today. We needed to back up our good football with goals and hopefully we've shown people what we can do, because passing the ball is the way I want to play. Today was about getting the right result, which we did. I've had half an eye on next season, but that's all it ever was while we weren't safe"...

...Magnanimous United boss John Ward says, after his side were taken out of a promotion spot, "I take the results and the players have to be responsible for the performances. I'm trying to explain both, and today it's a very poor day for us. Millwall deserved to win, they were much the better side, and trying to find reasons why, but I suppose the simple thing is that they played a lot better than we did."

24th April Tony Craig's loan spell is extended to the end of the season.

21st April Oh how far we have fallen. Rotherham United's Chris O'Grady does not want to move to Millwall, despite not having a future at the Administration ruined club.

20th April Rhys Evans reveals that he is losing sleep, to the Telegraph, "I don't think I've made too many [mistakes], but I really don't want to make any in the last two games because they could be costly. I'm going to bed late and waking up early at the moment. It's not easy to sleep."

19th April Millwall 0 Leeds United 2: A thoroughly predictable result. Millwall bombard the United box for seventy minutes, but with one up front and poor quality into the box the impetus is not rewarded. Leeds counter-attack and score, then score again. All over...

...The results do not go the way of the Lions either. Although Gillingham are still bringing up the rear, Bournemouth can now survive as well. Oh good...

...Kenny Jackett is bemused, "That was the story of our season. We need to score when we're on top. Right now I'm disappointed with the result because I really felt there was something there for us - we did everything but score."

18th April Reading's Jem Karacan will stay with the Lions until the end of the season.

16th April Millwall ask an independent tribunal to delay the decision on Leeds United's request for their fifteen points back, until after the forthcoming match.

12th April Hartlepool 0 Millwall 1: A Jay Simpson goal does the business in a nervy encounter, which the Lions pretty much dominate throughout...
...Kenny Jackett says afterwards, "This is a significant result for us, but I told the players that we have to go back to The Den and show against two very good sides that we are not only going to stay in this League, but that we will be a force next year."

11th April Millwall announce a pre-season tour to Ireland: Shelbourne; 14th July, Bray Wanderers; 16th July, UCD; 21st July.

10th April The club make the predictable and necessary decision to confirm the forthcoming Leeds United fixture as an all ticket match.

9th April The club publicly condemn Lennie Pidgeley, after the reserve team goalkeeper is dragged out of a nightclub during a piss up with Chelsea players.

8th April Heather Rabbatts adds her comments to Beryslon's, "The motions proposed would make it impossible to manage this club. One has to question his motives for trying to impose restrictions on us."

7th April Graham Ferguson Lacey demands an EGM to discuss the continued strategy. In fact he wants EGMs every time something important happens. John Berylson says, "We will take every necessary step to fight this proposal. Mr Lacey is trying to use his minority stake to wrest control of the club and company away from the board." It's going to get ugly.

5th April Millwall 1 Gillingham 1: A winner stays up game finishes 1-1. Phew. And it is a 'phew’ moment as well because the Gills take the lead, Millwall camp in their half and create little. There’s another dreadful miss by Brkovic, but Paul Robinson saves the club's bacon with a late equaliser...
...Kenny Jackett says, "I'm frustrated again because had we taken our chances we would have won the game comfortably, but with Crewe losing, at least a draw keeps us in with a fighting chance."

4th April John Berylson, via Chestnut Hill Ventures, loans the company a further £3m. The original Facility A Loan (£5m) is repayable on or before the third anniversary of funds being drawn down under it and the Facility B Loan (£3m) is repayable on or before the second anniversary of funds being drawn down under it.