The Lion Roars Diary - June 2008

26th June Chris Zebroski turns down Millwall's contract offer and moves to Wycombe Wanderers for a reported fee of £20,000. He is joined by Gavin Grant, who apparently is not in prison, as some may have thought…
…Bizarrely, Darren Byfield's agent is trying to persuade Kenny Jackett to re-sign the troublemaking striker. Leeds are also alleged to have been approached.

25th June Former chairman Peter de Savary throws his lot in with Graham Ferguson Lacey by converting his loan into shares. As long as the motions fail, this reduces the company debt further, which is a good thing...
...John Berylson tells of his concerns over the way the vote will go at the EGM to the Southwark News that, "The only fan I am aware of voting against me is Mr Burnige"...
...The chairman certainly knows how to get peoples' backs up, but nevertheless, Jeff Burnige is still forced to publicly back Beryslon's defence of Mr Lacey's proposals.

24th June Another fixture change. The trip to Yeovil Town will now be on Good Friday instead of Easter Saturday.

22nd June Millwall's new centre of excellence has their first playing recruit. Laurie Walker, an 18 year old goalkeeper from MK Dons.

21st June Tragic news reaches TLR Towers, as we learn that former Lions keeper Tim Carter has committed suicide. Carter's body was discovered in bushes by a passer-by in the Highfield Close area of Stretford, Greater Manchester. No further information is released.

20th June A major positive emerges from GFL's dastardly scheme, as this note appears in the Stock Exchange news releases, "The Board of Millwall announces that it has today received notices of conversion from Chestnut Hill Ventures LLC ("CHV") requesting the conversion of £2,300,000 of the nominal amount of its convertible loan facility into 7,666,666,667 ordinary shares of 0.01p in the Company ("New Shares"). Millwall has also received notices of conversion from certain of its directors requesting the conversion of all the principal and accrued interest on their directors' loan notes as to Constantine Gonticas amounting to £110,793 convertible into 369,310,000 New Shares; Keyse Holdings Limited (a company associated with Trevor Keyse) £33,029 convertible into 110,096,667 New Shares; and as to Stewart Till, £55,102 convertible into 183,673,333 New Shares."

19th June Barry Fry is up to his old tricks, as he stirs the pot as soon as his club enters the division. The Boxing Day fixture at London Road is brought forward, to noon. Fry says, "The kick-off times have been brought forward on the advice of the police. Leeds, Leicester and Millwall fans have a reputation, and we want to give them less time in the pubs before kick-off." What an arse.

16th June The eagerly awaited League fixtures are released by the Football League. The first game is away to Oldham on 9th August and the following Saturday's first home game is against Southend…
…The South London Press includes a letter written by the Millwall Supporters Club regarding the forthcoming EGM. It includes the following, "Before even considering support for him at the EGM, supporter shareholders would like to hear Mr Lacey's thoughts on the football club, how it should be moved forward, where it should be playing, and how it should be financed. Mr Lacey's reputation in business, as a corporate raider and opportunist, irrespective of the damage left in his wake, is very well documented. Unless he can give supporters some comfort and assurances regarding his vision for Millwall FC - and he has already been offered the opportunity to do so - we will be strongly advising all shareholders to vote against Mr Ferguson Lacey's resolutions."

13th June The first fixture of the coming season, Northampton at home in the League Cup on 12th August.

9th June Jeff Burnige steps down from the Millwall board for the first time since he joined in 1986, and says, "Everyone will understand what a painful and difficult decision this has been for me to take. It has been a fantastic privilege to serve on the Millwall Board for so long, and to have enjoyed much success during that period. I will always particularly remember my last season on the Board because of the kindness shown to me by so many people following the death of my wife Jane. I will continue to support the club in every way I can in the future"…
…Coincidentally or not, Joe Little also leaves the club, and with a parting shot in the South London Press, "It got to the stage where it wasn't what I signed up to do. Though I fully understand the club's reasons for going to a school of excellence, if my heart and soul wasn't in it, it was time to leave. I will be eternally grateful for all the help and support I have had from the club. They have been brilliant to me all this time. Everyone really wanted me to stay at the club and take on the school of excellence. It just wasn't the direction I wanted to go." He will be replaced by Scott Fitzgerald.

8th June Graham Ferguson Lacey's requested EGM will take place on 2nd July. Lacey's letter to shareholders includes the following, "The Company's performance under the Board's leadership has been extremely disappointing. At the end of a season in which the club narrowly avoided relegation, the share price fell to less than half that when John Berylson and Demos Kouvaris (the American directors) were appointed and has dropped off even further compared to when Heather Rabbatts joined the Board. The Company cannot continue to justify the cost of £220,000 per annum for Ms Rabbatts' failure to deliver. The future financial viability of Millwall is vitally linked to a successful real estate regeneration project that does not interfere with the continued playing of football at The Den"…
…Chairman John Berylson goes on the defensive in an equally long letter, of which this is a key stand-point, "If you read [GFL's letter] you will appreciate why the company's lawyers advised us that [the content is] both vexatious and ineffective. This is why your Directors declined to convene a general meeting, as we are legally entitled to do in these circumstances. In essence this was an attempt to secure back door control without the responsibility and accountability, which I, as Chairman, and the Board assume."

5th June Millwall sign 28 year old keeper David Forde on a two-year deal after his release by Cardiff City. Kenny Jackett says, "He did very well in his loan spells in League One last season [at Bournemouth] and I believe he will prove an excellent acquisition for us. I've known about David for some time since he was playing up the road at Cardiff when I was manager of Swansea."

4th June After a long delay deciding whether the relatively poor contract offer was worth signing, Neil Harris does the deed and says, "Everyone knows just how much this club means to me. Naturally I had to talk things through with my family, and they are as delighted as I am that I will still be a Millwall player." Kenny Jackett adds, "I'm very pleased that we have now secured Neil's services for the coming season. He clearly has the presence and experience which will prove invaluable within a young team."

3rd June Millwall's new sponsors for the 2008/09 season are courier company CYC. Nicky Hayes, a director of CYC says, "As a young progressive global brand, CYC are proud to be associated with Millwall Football Club.