The Lion Roars Diary - November 2009

29th November A win in the replay would see Millwall play Derby at home in the FA Cup third round.

28th November Staines 1 Millwall 1: A header from Paul Robinson is cancelled out by Ali Chaaban, formerly of Bromley Town, to force a Den replay. The game sees Andy Frampton taken off with a hand injury on his 100th Millwall appearance in all competitions...

...Having again seen Morison miss a couple of simple chances, Jackett admits he is trying to bring in strikers. He says, “Even with people coming back, we need to strengthen our forward line in January. I made extensive inquiries before the loan deadline on Thursday. We have been working very hard to bring in new signings. Some were close, but it is frustrating that it has not happened. It was a case of players turning us down or of the host club saying yes initially, but then not getting their own targets so having to say no in the end. It is not a great feeling, approaching the closing of the window. It feels like a panicky situation, when what you would rather be doing is planning carefully and working things out nice and evenly. Clubs were looking at their options and unfortunately it did not fall for us this time. But we have to come through it. This situation gives a chance to other people - and it is theirs to take."

26th November A loan deadline day that begins with Southwark News revealing that talks are taking place to bring in a forward ends with Zak Whitbread’s proposed move to Huddersfield falling down after talks with Huddersfield boss Lee Clark fail to produce a deal...

...As a result of Millwall’s failure to bring in a striker, Ashley Grimes’ temporary move to Crawley falls through...

...Millwall announce that all 3,000 tickets for the trip to Charlton on December 19 have been sold...

...Darren Ward tells Southwark News that he is a better player than the one that left in summer 2005, “It's not just a case of showing Millwall fans the Darren Ward they know, but a more-improved Darren Ward. “I've gone and got a lot more experience in my time away from the club, but it does take time to settle back in. When I first came here it took me six months or so to settle - I'm not saying it's going to take that long, but it does take time.” He also reveals that his recent knee injury, “was close to being a cruciate, just a couple of millimetres away. “I really rolled my knee badly, picking up some bone bruising and strained everything apart from the main ligaments.

25th November Ashley Grimes is a loan target for Blue Square Premier side Crawley Town. Manager Steve Evans says, “Kenny Jackett is happy for him to come here and get a few games but it is just a question of getting a deal done in regards to the wages. "We can only pay a small proportion of his wages and Kenny has come back with a different figure”...

...Neil Harris is nominated for the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month Award. He is up against Brighton’s Glenn Murray and Leeds duo Robert Snodgrass and Jermaine Beckford.

24th November Exeter 1 Millwall 1: Two points dropped as Adam Stansfield scores in the 88th minute to rescue a point for 10-man Exeter. Millwall, ahead through David Martin’s penalty, looked well on course for victory when Steve Tully saw red for a second booking. But Exeter made the Lions pay for a poor miss by Morison from five yards.

23rd November Instead of focusing on the fact his own team failed to turn up, Kenny Jackett turns to the tried and tested method of blaming the ref for the Wycombe loss. Referring to the Craig injury he says, “It was a terrible thing to happen. The guy has basically tried to bicycle kick the ball and got Tony’s head. If that is not dangerous play, I don’t know what is. I have lost a key player and a crucial person for a long time. It was not a case of a player stopping low to head the ball - it was head height. Tony’s feet were actually slightly off the ground, so it was a full six feet in the air. If people put their heads down, fine. But you don’t expect it from chest height and above. I was very disappointed with the referee’s decision. It was a very, very poor one. And the linesman was right next to it”...

...Jackett adds that injuries to the likes of Craig may force him to enter the loan market before the November 26th deadline: "Getting a loan in is a possibility. We will have to wait and see. It would have to be exactly the right player. And it would depend on an assessment of the injuries to Harris and James Henry. Those factors are very important. Henry’s left hamstring has caused the problems and it is coming on slowly."

22nd November Physio Bobby Bacic has bad news about the condition of Gary Alexander. He says, “Gary Alexander is having a really tough time at present; we are hoping his heel spur will settle a little more than it is at present otherwise he will need to have an operation. Gary is looking at playing no part until the New Year.”

21st November Millwall 0 Wycombe 2: In one of the worst home performances for many months, Millwall tamely relinquish their unbeaten Den record to the league’s bottom club, previously winless on their travels. A poor first half is followed by a woeful second, with Craig Woodman and Kevin Betsy scoring for the visitors. Chants of “We are staying up” from the North Stand sum it up...

...Missing from the side is Neil Harris, who goes down on the eve of the game with a back problem. Jackett says, “I don't blame the loss on changes. We had a group of players who could have won the game out there so I can't blame it on the fact I altered the team. I wouldn't say we were run ragged but they took their chances. They may be bottom but whoever you drop points to, it's always disappointing."

...Shamefully, the awful performance coincides with the club’s Help For Heroes day, which sees a half time parade of British war veterans - one wearing a Millwall shirt while bravely making it around the pitch with the aid of two prosthetic legs...  

...Jimmy Abdou makes his 50th Football League appearance for Millwall...

...Tony Craig suffers a fractured cheekbone and eye socket after being kicked in the head by Gareth Ainsworth.

20th November South London Press reports that chairman John Berylson wants to put another £11m into Millwall. The money would come as a loan with the option of it being converted into shares and take the club’s debt to the American to £20m.  The motion is subject to shareholder approval at the AGM on December 11th...

...David Forde enters talks on a new contract extension...

19th November It is good news for the shelved regeneration scheme as the Surrey Canal Road East London Line tube station, originally rejected through lack of funding, appears to be back on. A TfL spokesperson says: “TfL and the London Borough of Lewisham have met with the Department for Transport to discuss the case for funding a new station in this location. We hope to have the go ahead by the end of the year.” Andy Ambler adds, “If that proves to be the case and the funding for the new station is forthcoming, it would be excellent news for the football club, our fans, local residents and everyone who attends events at the stadium or activities run by our community scheme. Better rail transport links are a key factor in terms of regenerating the whole area and giving people greater access to the facilities we have here. This really would be a tremendous stride in the right direction.”

17th November Millwall try to put a positive spin on the latest annual financial figures - a £5.2m loss up to June 30 2009 - by arguing it represents progress from a £6.1m loss the previous year. That figure, however, was based on the preceding 13 months...

...If chairman John Berylson is concerned, he is not showing it. He says, “ As I have said many times before, this is a very special football club and if we all pull together and continue to work hard it will be a successful one."  

...Kiernan Hughes-Mason’s 36th-minute penalty is enough to send Oxford Unite out of the FA Youth Cup and sets up a third round tie at Torquay United...

14th November Brentford 2 Millwall 2: With the build-up to the game dominated by concerns that it would be rained off, teenager John Bostock - a loan signing from palace the previous day - catches Millwall unawares with two goals in the first 25 minutes on his Brentford debut. A diving header by Paul Robinson sandwiches the strikes. It takes a 35-yard James Henry free kick in the last minute to rescue a point for Millwall.

13th November The South London Press hears a rumour that Peterborough are interested in Kenny Jackett replacing the sacked Darren Ferguson as manager. Jackett says, “I really like Millwall. It is a very, very good club. There isn’t too much wrong with it. Even before I came here people told me what it was like. There are some tremendous people here - the place is full of unsung heroes. On the other side, I know how this industry will be. You can’t relax in this role, take your foot off the gas or sit back. You have to push all the time and keep at it. That is the nature of the business.”

...Later on, Mark Cooper is named the new Peterborough manager.

12th November Richard Sadlier resigns from his role as chief executive of Irish club St Patrick’s Athletic.

11th November Two days after his parent club refused to let him play against AFC Wimbledon, any hopes that James Henry would eventually sign a  permanent Millwall deal are dashed by Reading’s announcement of a contract extenson until summer 2011. Reading director of football Nick Hammond says, "James is an exciting player who is still very young. "He is continuing his football education out at Millwall, and is a player we have high hopes for in the future"...

...Inevitably there is talk of moving the Cup second round tie away from Staines Town’s Wheatsheaf Park because it only has a 3,000 capacity. Brentford and QPR are the likely alternatives to host the match should the police want it moved.

9th November Millwall 4 AFC Wimbledon 1 After a nervy first half, a goal from Neil Harris sets Millwall on their way and they end up comfortable winners. Jason Price scores twice, with Danny Schofield getting his first Den goal...

...For the biggest game of their history, AFC Wimbledon bring 3,330 supporters - filling most of the North Stand...

...There is half time entertainment with a difference as Bermondsey-raised boxer David Haye celebrates becoming WBA World Heavyweight Champion two days earlier by entering the Den pitch, complete with Millwall scarf and hat. The amount of photographers crowding around Haye perhaps dwarf anything we have ever seen at the ground...

...The Den is mooted as a possible venue for Haye’s first title defence.

8th November The FA Cup second round draw pits Millwall at Blue Square South outift Staines Town, conquerors of Shrewsbury Town, should the Lions see off AFC Wimbeldon.

7th November  Jackett beats off competition from four nominees, including Southampton manager Alan Pardew, to win the League One manager of the Month award for October.

6th November Jimmy Abdou signs a new deal keeping him at The Den until summer 2013. He says, "Last year was great for me and so it was an easy decision to extend my time at Millwall. I'm very happy here and there is a good spirit in the team."

5th November Jackett warns against complacency ahead of the AFC Wimbledon cup-tie. He says, “I watched them last week and they are a bright football team who are playing with a lot of confidence and with no fear. They will come here to play and will not have a lot of worries or inhibitions on the day, so they must be respected by ourselves.”

3rd November Jack Smith signs a new deal keeping him at Millwall until July 2011. He says, "Now I am looking forward to carrying on and hopefuly playing a part in helping us win promotion this season"...

...A crowd of 352 see Millwall U18s make it to the FA Youth Cup second round with a 3-1 win over Southend United. Goals from Grant Ludford and Kiernan Hughes-Mason effectively seal the game within the first five minutes, with Ikenna Ofoche netting the third in the second half...

...Next up is a home game against Oxford United...

2nd November Dennis Wise is linked with the vacant Brighton manager’s job following the sacking of one-time Millwall target Russell Slade.