Millwall

'STRIKER RICH' LIONS

7 May 2009

David Yuill
dyuill@southwarknews.org

Lions Chairman John Berylson has vowed to boost Kenny Jackett's strike-force over the summer and to become 'striker-rich' rather than 'striker-poor' - no matter what division Millwall are in next season.

Having been forced to rely on no fewer than ten short-term and loan strikers in his time at the club through injuries, suspensions and lack of form in his frontline, Jackett will finally get to splash the cash to secure his men, with the owner hinting that it might well be familiar faces.

"I want to be striker rich," said Berylson. "I have been striker poor since I have been here and we have had to get reinforcements on loan. "We are strong defensively and we now have good options in midfield."

The club's strikers - Neil Harris, Gary Alexander, Lewis Grabban and Ashley Grimes - have scored less than a goal in every four appearances between them since Jackett arrived in November last year having netted 48 in 195 games.
With hot prospects for the future Grabban and Grimes signing long-term deals and Harris and Alexander both putting pen to paper in the past six weeks - there is still room for up to two more leading wage earners in the contract budget according to Berylson.

"We are all aware that we need five or six strikers next season," he said. "No matter what division we are in we will bring in new faces. "It might be Jason [Price], maybe Vincent [Pericard] and it might be someone from lower down the food chain."

When pushed on the amount of money that will be available whether promotion is secured or not, the Den boss didn't let much on. He said: "I have never said no to anything that Kenny has asked for. I have an upper limit on the money I will spend -and Kenny knows what that is. But he has never come close to asking for it. He will work with the money and the players that he wants and build when he says we need it."

A source close to the club admitted that the interest in Stevenage striker Steve Morison (pictured) was still strong despite interest from Championship clubs. "We are still interested in Morison," he said. "That has never gone away. But both clubs [Millwall and Stevenage] have had, and still have some big games to play. But then, we will see.

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