The Lion Roars Diary - May 2008

23rd May Millwall downgrade their academy to a centre of excellence to help save money at the club. Kenny Jackett defends the money saving decision, "We've got a very good 13-year-old lad but the system means that at the end of the season he can go, by way of a window in his contract, to other clubs. We lost three players last season who, no doubt about it, would have been close to the first team this season. You do get compensation but it doesn't necessarily help with the morale"…
…manchester city youth striker/midfielder Ashley Grimes becomes the first new signing of the summer. Marc Laird is asked for a comparative player and says, "If I had to compare him to anyone well known at the top level it would be Dennis Bergkamp, because he can pass and score goals." As a supporters magazine, it would be remiss of TLR not remind all and sundry of that quote on a regular basis next season.

15th May Chris Hackett signs a six month deal and says, "I've had a lot of support from the management, fans and players and now I want to pay that back by performing for Millwall. I am confident that things are looking up here and that we can be successful next season."

12th May Unfortunate news returns from Danny Senda's scan results. He will be out for around nine months after having a kneecap re-positioned and part of his hamstring harvested for use for cartilage repair.

11th May New London Mayor Boris Johnson, joins 25,000 Christians in prayer at the Global Day of Prayer London (GDOP) at The Den. He must have forgotten about having to do this sort of stuff when he applied for the job. It is the biggest crowd seen at the new ground.

6th May The manager makes an announcement regarding team re-structuring for next season. Chris Zebroski, Chris Hackett and Neil Harris are all offered new deals. Chris Day, Tom Brighton, Mark Phillips, Gavin Grant, Andrew Callaghan, Ross Gaynor, Ryan James, Rhys Evans and Zoumana Bakayogo will all be released.

3rd May Swindon Town 2 Millwall 1: Another dubious result with a disastrous side story. Danny Senda scores his first Lions goal, but dislocates a knee - effectively omitting him from summer transfer action and several months of football. The home side get a dodgy penalty, the away side should have got a penalty, but despite being fouled in the box Bas Savage is amazed when referee Mark Haywood calls proceedings back for an earlier infringement that he had waved play on. Shaw finishes his Lions career with an own goal winner for Swindon...

...Manager Jackett isn't happy, "I was disappointed. I didn't think we wanted it enough."

2nd May The clearout begins - Chris Day and Tom Brighton are the first for the exit door. Perhaps a little harsh, as Day was no worse than any other keeper we have seen this season, and Tom Brighton is still a young hopeful. But it could hardly be described as a surprise. With a forty man squad some have to go...

...Jem Karacan tells the South London Press that he would like to return next term, "It might be possible for me to come back. If Reading want me to go on loan next season, I'm sure I'll look at Millwall. I have enjoyed every minute playing here. The fans have been brilliant from the first day I walked in."

1st May Millwall's hopes of signing Jay Simpson are dashed, as he receives the PFA Player of the Year award for this division. As no Millwall player was within a sniff of the Divisional Team of the Year, it suggests there are quite a lot of arsenal influenced people allowed to vote in such matters.