With it known that manager Neil Harris was already on the lookout for a different type of striker to add to our ranks ahead of the coming League One campaign with news of Aiden O’Brien’s injury and the fact he will miss all of our August fixtures and then some into September, Harris has explained that he’s ‘fully aware’ we need another forward but the injury hasn’t overly changed our transfer plans.
Speaking to the official site with us now having Lee Gregory and John Marquis as our senior strike force, the gaffer explained that with us naturally looking anyway, the injury hasn’t forced our hand or pushed us into a position of just looking for a body.
‘It doesn’t force our hand because we were looking anyway. Nothing changes. We are still looking at the same personnel and things are starting to take shape for other clubs as well. Whether we’re looking to take somebody for a period of time or to buy somebody, we are starting to find out who is available and who is not.’
Harris confirms that so far we are being patient and we have made a lot of enquiries for players already but it’s about largely seeing what their current clubs are going to do in terms of plans as over the next few weeks permanent additions will become available where they aren’t at the minute, and loan additions will certainly come more into play.
‘I need to bring somebody else in, I know that, and I think it would be good for the boys to bring somebody else in to boost the squad. I’m fully aware that we need another frontline striker at the moment and we are looking tirelessly to get the right one.’
Key to that is getting the right one and not just anybody.
Whilst it won’t directly affect his playing budget for this year, chairman John Berylson has also confirmed further financial restructuring of sorts and it’s been announced that he is wiping out £8.4million of accrued interest owed to his company, Chestnut Hill Ventures, and for the time being no further interest will be charged or levied on the associated loans.
Additional cash funding into the club to cover ongoing losses is also being addressed by the issue of B shares, which is effectively more equity in the club as opposed to growing additional debt.
£12.375million of B shares were issued for this process covering the last two years to June 30, 2015.
‘I have agreed to fund the club on an ongoing basis by way of shares and am as fully committed as ever. Obviously League 1 means less revenue but, having funded the Academy for some time, it is encouraging to see so many good young players coming through which will be vital going forward.’
On the youngster front if we can find out feet it could be a new dawn both in terms of success on the pitch with a tight knit group but also obviously the financial rewards that can come from clubs down the pecking order developing their own who catch the eye of the money bags rich Premier League boys.
Vital Millwall on:
Vital Millwall on:
Neil On Striker Options – Berylson Wipes Interest
