The Lion Roars Diary - July 2008

31st July The club release a statement with the sad news that Nicky Milo has died. "It is with great sadness that we learnt of the untimely death of former Academy Director Nicky Milo, who passed away this morning following a long and brave battle with illness"...
...Andy Ambler complains to the Southwark News about the 1,000 drop in season ticket sales, "I think it very unfair to say we have a lack of interest in Millwall. We have signed four players on top of the seven in January, which is more than anybody else in league One." Seven players that no-one has heard of may have something to do with it.

30th July Ebbsfleet United 1 Millwall 2: The reserves travel to Bluewater for some shopping and stop off at Ebbsfleet. 1) Pidgeley, 2) Sim (Bowes), 3) Barron, 4) Keane (Johnson), 5) Frampton, 6) O'Connor, 7) Hackett, 8) Spiller, 9) Harris, 10) Grimes, 11) Smith. Hackett scores early and Bowes, looking very lively, scores the winner...
...A Fans Forum is arranged for 5th August at The Den.

28th July Millwall 1 Tottenham 1: The Lions field a near full strength side against Steed Malbranque, who is just about the only player anyone who might have been watching would have recognised. Sadly Millwall can't afford to have their own fans at a game because the police demanded full costs recovery. The team features: 1) Edwards, 2) Dunne, 3) Craig, 4) Abdou, 5) Robinson, 6) Whitbread, 7) Brkovic, 8) Laird, 9) Grabban, 10) Alexander, 11) Martin (Hackett). This time Alexander scores the Lions goal.

24th July Manager Jackett admits to the South London Press, that he is still looking for a striker, "I am working with my current strike-force to get the equation right but should someone come on the market that would considerably improve our squad, I would have to consider it."

22nd July Reading 1 Millwall 1: A distinctly first team looking line-up for this behind-closed-doors friendly at Hogwood Park. 1) Edwards, 2) Dunne, 3) Craig, 4) Laird, 5) Robinson, 6) Whitbread, 7) Hackett (Spiller), 8) Abdou (Fuseini), 9) Harris, 10) Grimes (Forbes), 11) Smith (Martin). Not so Reading, who have no first teamers playing in their first kick-about of their belated pre-season campaign. Harris scores the Lions goal.

17th July Manager Jackett is fairly happy with the Irish tour. "We need to keep improving and convert our possession into more shots and goals. Firstly in training, but most importantly in games."

16th July Bray Wanderers 0 Millwall 1: 1) Forde, 2) Dunne (Daly), 3) Craig (Daniels), 4) Laird (Fuseini), 5) Robinson, 6) Whitbread, 7) Hackett (Brkovic), 8) Abdou, 9) Harris (Forbes), 10) Grabban (Grimes), 11) Spiller (Martin). Brkovic scores the only goal. Mick Daly is an Irish trialist that also worked with Kenny Jackett at manchester city.

14th July Shelbourne 1 Millwall 1: A first pre-season friendly in Ireland. It's a game of two halves, the team in brackets represents the second half players: 1) Forde (Edwards), 2) Dunne (Forbes), 3) Frampton (Barron), 4) Laird (Spiller), 5) Robinson (Craig), 6) Whitbread (Daniels), 7) Hackett (Brkovic), 8) Abdou (Fuseini), 9) Harris (Grimes), 10) Grabban (Alexander), Martin (Smith). Harris scores the goal…
…Dave Brammer is told that he is not part of the manager's plans and is asked to kindly place his busted knee on someone else's medical room bed for the remainder of his career…
…Fisher Athletic announce plans to attract Millwall fans to Champion Hill [where they are playing while their/our next ground is being built] this season. The club's board have given the go-ahead to a new commercial incentive scheme for Millwall Season Ticket holders for the forthcoming campaign. Just show your season ticket to get in for half price…
…Graham Ferguson Lacey claims one victory in the South London Press, "I consider an extremely worthwhile consolation prize the conversion of £2.8m-plus of debt into equity and 'methinks Berylson and Rabbatts do protest too much' to quote Shakespeare, for the costs of the general meeting as they represent less than six months of the interest saving on the loans converted, not to mention the improvement in the company's balance sheet."

11th July For a fee rumoured to be around £125,000 Tony Craig rejoins the Lions from crystal palace. Manager Jackett says, "I think he'll be a good asset for us. He will have benefited from the experience of being away from here for a year, but he's still a good age and he's fully focused on helping us win promotion to the Championship. I'm very much looking forward to working with him again"…
…The match with UCD in Ireland is called off because the club can't afford to host it.

10th July Bas Savage allows his feet to do the talking and leaves for Tranmere Rovers. To think we thought Ronnie Moore could have made a good Millwall manager. Mind you, Kenny Jackett signed the fraud as well.

9th July Okay, who saw themselves on TV? The episode of The Bill, featuring The Den is aired on ITV…
…Comedy footballer Bas savage says he has no intention of leaving the Lions, "I'm back in training with Millwall and I'm planning to be a part of Kenny Jackett's plans for next season by letting my feet do the talking"…
…Meanwhile, Lennie Pidgeley goes to Motherwell for a trial. If Mark McGhee saves us those wages, he really will go down as a legendary Lions manager…
…A Fans Forum is diarised for 5th August.

7th July Tottenham left back and Tottenham youth product Charlie Daniels sets up a trial at the Millwall training ground.

4th July After last season's injury problems it is amazing he has hung around so long, but Ade Mafe leaves The Den to take up a new role as fitness coach at MK Dons.

3rd July Another fixture change, this time the match scheduled for Saturday 27th September at Swindon Town, will now be held at the County Ground the following day, with a 3pm kick-off. Town's chief executive Nick Watkins says, "The police wanted to play the game the following day because that is when they had the resources"…
…Central midfielder Nadjim 'Jimmy' Abdou join the Lions from Plymouth Argyle on a two-year deal after failing to agree terms with the Championship side.

2nd July The EGM takes place and Graham Ferguson Lacey's proposals are defeated. Stewart Till is the first board member to have his say, "Everyone on the board is extremely pleased with the outcome, which is a huge show of support for John and hopefully this is the end of it. It cost £130,000 to organise this EGM and in League One terms, that is a proven striker we will not be able to sign. If Mr Lacey's plans had been backed we would have been looking at paying out a similar amount every time a meeting was called so common sense has thankfully prevailed." We will examine Mr Till's claim that this non-football related issue has cost the club a striker elsewhere…
…Richard Shaw retires from football to take up a coaching role. This will save a few bob.

1st July The players return for pre-season training and the new kits are revealed. Shiny