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Breaking news has just filtered through from Millwall that Willie Donachie has been sacked. We are expecting a statement from Millwall shortly but we will you further news on this as and when we get it.
Millwall FC Statement
Quote:
Originally Posted by Millwall FC Statement
We regret to inform that Millwall FC and Willie Donachie have agreed to part company. We feel there was a complete breakdown in communication between the board and Mr. Donachie, and we feel this would have put our league campaign in jeopardy had we continued with these circumstances.
We wish Mr. Donachie all the best in his future but we must now move on.
We will now be searching for the right man to steer this great club forward and achieve the goals that the team and the fans deserve.
Upon hearing the statement made by Millwall, Willie Donachie has come out to give his own statement to clear up his sacking.
quote Willie Donachie
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie Donachie
I feel betrayed by the board at Millwall, there was no breakdown in communication at all. A minor incident at the last board meeting has been blown completely out of proportion and has, ultimately, cost me my job.
Unfortunately, I took the last hobnob on the table and Stewart Till went mad, saying it was his. The next day he calls an emergency meeting with the rest of the board and the next thing I know, I’m out of a job.
I would take it to court but I want to move on and forget about it. I’m moving back to Scotland to spend some quality time with the family.
I have been to see the players and they are just as confused as me but we move on.
I wish all of them the best of luck in the future and also to the fans and the new man they get, because with Mr. Till in charge he is going to need it.
Well, with all the controversy surrounding Donachie’s sacking, this is unlikely to be the last we hear of this.
As for the vacancy, the front-runners for the job include Glenn Hoddle, Martin Allen and Paul Ince. Allen appears to be the firm favourite with the bookies and the fans, but an announcement from Millwall is not expected until next week...
[div align=center]****[/div]
I sat down to my tea after my morning run and took a quick glance at the back page of the newspaper. Among the headlines was news on the ‘Hobnob Scandal’ that had recently happened down at The Den. I allowed myself a small laugh at this, as it was because f this ‘scandal’ that I had been given my opportunity.
I had already had all the interviews and it all seemed very positive with Stewart Till. He had asked me my ambitions and what I could bring to this team and he told what his goals for the club were. I was impressed by what he said and I believe he was too.
There had been a plate of biscuits sitting on his desk, but I resisted the urge to take one.
I drank the last of my tea, folded the paper, and got up to put on my coat. As I went to leave the house I smiled to myself, the vibes were there; this was going to be a good day...
Millwall have called an evening press conference, where they are expected to announce their new manager.
Glenn Hoddle and Paul Ince are said to have declined the offer of the job, so the identity of the new man is unknown. Rumours have spread that Martin Allen has been given the job but there has been no confirmation...
****
So there I was standing beside Stewart Till, ready to meet the press and be introduced as the new Millwall manager.
It had been a mixed week, but everything had been agreed and signed, and I was ready to go.
I took a look at my watch, 7:30, it was time.
Stewart Till opened the door and motioned for me to follow. I followed him through to meet the flashing cameras and face the waiting reporters...
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i should have next update on soon!
Thanks for reading, hope u enjoy and keep the comments and ideas coming !
Stewart Till
"Hello, and thank you all for coming to this press conference. First of all I would like to introduce to the person you are all here for, Paul Lucas, the new Millwall manager.
He has shown me and the board that he has the skills and mental ability to take this club forward. I am certain we have the right man.
I’m sure you a lot of questions for Paul so I’ll hand over to him, but I say now, I will not answering any questions regarding Mr. Donachie.
Thank you."
Reporter
"Stewart, the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Paul Ince were linked with job, were they not up to it? Was Paul your first choice?"
Stewart Till
"We didn’t have a ‘first choice’. Instead we drew up a shortlist of candidates we wanted and went through the interview process. Paul made it clear early on that he had the passion and desire needed for a job like this.
It would be unfair on the people listed and the manager sitting next to me if I went into who was on our shortlist, but we wanted a Millwall man, someone who feels the club we and the fans do. Paul is definitely that man."
Reporter
"Paul, this is your first managerial job, how do you think the fans will react?"
Paul
"It’s my first job in professional management, yes, but I have spent a few years in non-league and now I feel I’m ready to take on this big test of Millwall onward and upward. As for the fans, I can’t promise instant success, but I can promise that myself and the players will try our best to bring success to The Den.
Millwall are my home team. I grew up watching football at Cold Blow Lane, so I want to see Millwall playing at the highest level as much as the next fan."
Reporter
"What are your plans for Millwall then?"
Paul
"Well there has been a lot of change at Millwall in recent years so my first job will be to bring stability to the club. Once we have that we can push on and climb the table. I truly believe this team has what it takes to give the fans something to be proud of.
Like I said, I can’t guarantee instant success, but long term we want to be up there with the best."
Reporter
"What about this season, as Millwall are predicted to be near the top fighting for promotion?"
Paul
"Well we will go through pre-season and take each game as it comes and we will see where we are at Christmas, then we’ll be able to able to assess what we can achieve and what we should be aiming for."
Reporter
"You’ve seen the team, what are your first impressions?"
Paul
"Yeah, I met the players the other day and their a great bunch of lads. They are all in high spirits and if we can bring that positive approach onto the pitch, we will get results.
There’s a great mixture of youth and experience in the squad and if I can add a few new faces to that then we can finish high."
Reporter
"You mentioned adding new faces, does that mean have money to spend? If so how much and who are you looking to get in?"
Paul
"The board have assured me that there is money there if I need it to strengthen the team. I haven’t really looked at anyone as I still need to see the squad play and see where we need more strength and depth. Once I’ve had a look, I’ll see what is available and look at possibly bringing some people in."
Reporter
"Paul, Willie Donachie left in controversial terms, did that not put you off at all?"
Paul
"What happened with Willie and Millwall is between them. I’ve been brought here to do a job and I won’t let past incidents disrupt that."
Reporter
"So you won’t be taking any Hobnobs?"
Paul
"No, I’m more of a custard cream man myself."
Stewart Till
"Ok people, is that all? We’ll leave it at, no doubt you will be seeing Paul on a regular basis. Thank you for your time."
****
I stood up, shook Stewart’s hand and left as I had entered, to the sight of flashing lights and the clicks of cameras as the reporters took their final photos. The conference had gone better then planned.
I walked through the halls with Stewart, some of the board members and a few press people as we went towards the pitch to take the usual pictures.
After all that was done and I answered a few more questions, I decided it was time to get to my office to start my work.
I walked to the door and saw the sign on the door -
Paul Lucas Manager
I smiled.
They really don’t hang about here when it comes to appointing managers.
I stepped into the bare office, Willie had been along earlier to clear out all his things and most of my things were still in boxes.
I could settle in and familiarise myself with my office later, but now, it was time to get to work...
I walked into the board room and took my seat at the table. Stewart Till and the rest of the board were already there.
‘Ok Paul, as you probably know, we’ve called this meeting to discuss the plans for the season’ Stewart said as I sat down. ‘No doubt you plenty to discuss as well where do you want to start?’
‘Well, I want to look at transfers’ I replied.
This brought a few raised eye brows from the board members, but I had decided it would be better to get straight to the point, rather then beat around the bush.
‘Ok, I take it you have players in mind’ asked Stewart.
‘Sort of’ I said as I passed them a sheet of paper with the list of players I was looking to get.
Stewart scanned the page for a minute before passing it onto the other members.
‘There are quite a few names on there. Do you really think their all necessary?’ Stewart asked as the list was passed around.
‘I’ve watched the team and our attack looks weak. In my opinion Alexander isn’t up to it and it leaves Neil Harris as our only real option up front’ I said. ‘Also, I think we need more depth in the midfield and better back-up for the keeper.’
The last board member placed the sheet in the middle of the table and looked at me, ‘it says here that they will come to £4 million. You know as well as us that sort of money isn’t available to us.’
‘That’s only an estimate. Some them players we can get on frees and loans, so maybe £2-3 million is more likely’
‘We can give you £1 million to bring in what you can.’
I picked up the list and looked towards Stewart. ‘I don’t know what the finances are like here and I don’t want to cause difficulties but if you can give me as close to £3 million as possible, and I bring them in, I can guarantee you we will be in the playoffs at the very least.
They look at each other in slight shock and disbelief, as if I had just claimed to have found the cure for cancer. I knew it was crazy to say but it was what I believed this squad was capable of.
Stewart was the first to react. ‘That’s a bold claim Paul. But if you truly believe that these players, as well as the squad we have, can make us promotion contenders, then we will back you. Of course we can’t promise £3 million but we will do what we can to finance the moves for these players.’
‘Thank you, you won’t regret it’
‘Right, moving on. The next agenda is friendlies, have you decided what you’re doing with these?’
‘Yes, me and Hugo looked into boosting team morale so we are suggesting a tour of Scotland, as well as some other games’ I said. ‘I’ll send Hugo up to sort out the details for arranging them’
We went through some other details for the season like the wage budgets and coaching and everything was sorted after a few hours with little fuss.
‘Ok then it looks like we are all in place for the season ahead’ said Stewart as we all began to put on our jackets. ‘I have a good feeling about this season for Millwall.’
We all nodded in agreement.
I stood up and shook the hands of all the board members, ending with Stewart Till. As he shook my hand he mouthed the words ‘don’t let me down’. I just looked straight at him and smiled.
I opened the door to leave, just stopping to take a quick glance back at the table. There on the table was a single hobnob on the plate of biscuits that had been there throughout the meeting. The solitary biscuit had been there for a majority of the meeting, but no one had even dared to take it...
I sat there at the back of the coach, thinking and writing down notes for today’s friendly against Peterborough. We were on our way to the stadium and I was still debating on who to play.
Today was important, not only because it was my first game, but also because it would be my first chance to see how the team played on the pitch. This would give me an indication of where we needed strengthening.
I had already been to watch a few of my targets and made contact with others over the past week. I wanted the whole team in place before the season started, but also I wanted a majority of the team in by the time we left for Scotland.
I put the notes on my lap and rested my head on the back of the seat in front. It had been a long week but I was making progress. I closed my eyes and thought about the tactics we would use.
‘Gaffer.’
‘Gaffer!’
I looked up. It was Paul Robinson.
‘Gaffer, we’re here.’
I must have fallen asleep. I got up from my seat, took a quick glance at my notes before putting them in my blazer pocket and followed Paul out of the coach. It was time for Peterborough...
Friendly
Peterborough 2 : 2 Millwall Spiller (24)
Simpson (86)
Jay Simpson came off the bench to grab a late equaliser for Millwall, in what was Paul Lucas’ first game in charge. Millwall took the lead through Daniel Spiller but a goal either side of half time put the home team in front before Simpson’s leveller. A fairly good performance from Millwall and it will leave Lucas with a lot to think about.
I was happy with the performance but it made me realise just how weak we are up front. If I was going to keep my promise to board of a fight for promotion then we were going to have to invest in some strikers. Not only this but the midfield was poor and we had hardly any options on the bench to change things apart from Simpson, who believe has a good future in the game.
After the game I got straight onto the phone to Stewart Till. If we were going to challenge for anything then we were going to need to push through these transfers as soon as possible.
I thought the last week had been hard, but it had only just begun...
Millwall - Hobnobs and all 
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