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MILLWALL manager John Docherty has linked up with his old pal and former boss Frank McLintock.
The ex-Arsenal and Scotland defender has been appointed as Docherty's assistant - a turn-around from their time at Brentford together when McLintock was in charge and the Doc was his deputy.
Millwall's backroom team has been under- strength ever since George Graham took Theo Foley with him, when he left for First Division Arsenal at the end of the 1985-86 campaign.
Renew
Ironically McLintock, who played in the same Arsenal double winning side as Graham was linked with the vacant reserve team job at Highbury recently. But the opportunity to renew his managerial partnership with Docherty proved more attractive, and the two men reached an agreement on Friday.
"John knows Frank well from their time at Brentford together and he rates him very highly," explained Millwall's chief executive Graham Hortop.
He is an experienced manager in his own right, he has got a lot of contacts in the game and I am sure that he will help strengthen our backroom team." McLintock quit as manager of Third Division Brentford last season after being told that his contract would not be renewed.
He is expected to work closely with the Lions new-look first team squad, while Roger Cross concentrates on the reserve and youth team players. |
Meanwhile, Millwall fans will get their first chance to see the club's £½ a million summer signings in action when the Lions play a pre-season friendly against Gillingham at the Den on August 7. It is the only home friendly Millwall have arranged because the Den pitch is still recovering from the installation of a new drainage system.
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MILLWALL'S summer splash into the transfer market threw up another pearl on Friday when strapping George Lawrence joined the Lions for £160,000 from Southampton.
Lawrence became the fourth - and probably final - piece in the jigsaw painstakingly put together by manager John Docherty.
And on Monday the persistent Doc - Who captured Lawrence after protracted on-off negotiations - finally convinced his old
Brentford sidekick Frank McLintock, to come and work at the Den.
McLintock, famed as captain of Arsenal's double-winning side, had become sick of soccer. But, the gleam in fellow Scot
Docherty's eye did the trick and McLintock 47, agreed to be his assistant.
"I chipped away at Frank and finally got him," said Docherty on Tuesday. "I think the signings I've made won him over.
He said: 'God, John, you're getting a side together there."
Lawrence joins Kevin O'Callaghan (£85,000), Steve Wood (£80,000) and Tony Cascarino (£200,000) in Millwall's £½m push towards the First Division for the first time in their history.
"Lawrence scored a dozen or so goals in theFirst Division and that would do us from the wing, wouldn't it," said Docherty
"He's terrorised Second Division defences in the past and I'm sure he can do it again.
He's one of those wingers who can come in at the far post and use his head. His long throw could be a bit of a weapon as well."Docherty had agreed a fee for Lawrence last September but the player, born in London, had wanted to see out his contract.
"I've made five signings including youth Wesley Reid from Arsenal,"said Docherty. "It's a breath of fresh air and everybody's buzzing."
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He joked: "Frank and I speak the same language and are the only ones who can understand each other. He's got great enthusiasm and depth of knowledge about the game. Now that we've got a bigger squad we can share the work around between myself, Frank, Roger Cross and, even Les Briley on occasions."
The new mood at the Den, encouraged by Lewisham Council's £280,000 community grant over four years, is being caught by Lions' fans. Chief executive Graham Hortop said: "Season ticket sales are up by 15 to 20 per cent on last season."
And Mecca bookmakers are taking no chances with the new-improved Lions quoting them at only 16 to 1 to win the Second Division title.
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MILLWALL manager John Docherty has dismissed the possibility of former Lions favourite Anton Otulakowski making a surprise return to the Den.
The 31-year-old midfielder has been given a free transfer by Crystal Palace, after spending much of last season on the sidelines with a serious ankle injury.
But Docherty, who has spent £525,000 on strengthening his first team squad during the summer, killed the rumours of a Den return stone dead when he said: "Anton did well during his time at Millwall, but I haven't spoken to him and there is no way I would he interested in signing him.
The Doc's new look squad continued their preparations for the coming season with behind closed doors work-outs against Chelsea and Colchester this week.
Nicky Coleman, Keith Stevens, Michael Marks plus new boys Kevin O'Callaghan and George Lawrence are all nursing slight knocks, but they should he fit in time for the Lions pre-season friendly against Dockland neighbours Fisher on Tuesday night.
Millwall have a supply of tickets for next Saturday's match between the Football League and a Rest of the World XI at Wembley.
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JOHN DOCHERTY unveils his new-look Millwall side for the first time tonight when the Lions face neighbours Fisher in a pre-season friendly at Salter Road (7.30 p.m.)
The Millwall manager has splashed out £525,000 on team strengthening during the close season, as the club makes a concerted bid to end their frustrating 102-year wait for First Division football.
And although the Doc isn't making any rash predictions about his sides chances, he is privately delighted at the way things have shaped up during a series of behind closed doors work outs against League opposition.
Docherty is keeping his fingers crossed that Nicky Coleman, Keith Stevens, Michael Marks, George Lawrence and Kevin O'Callaghan have an recovered from knocks.
Millwall wind up their preparations against Gillingham on Friday.
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Double Scotch brings cheer to the Den |
No matter how you say it, the home of Millwall Football Club hardly rings of a warm welcome. The Den ... Cold Blow Lane ... both suggest an intimidating rather than inviting atmosphere.
But the times are changing at the dockland club which has attracted more than its fair share of the wrong headlines over the years. There is a wind of change in SE14.
The man behind the revolution is a 47-year-old Scot called John Docherty. He took over a year ago and immediately ran into a staff crisis. John Fashanu had left for Wimbledon, Steve Lowndes wanted to go and Robert Wilson also made it clear that he wanted to pursue his career elsewhere. With Steve Lovell injured and Anton Otulakowski also on his way.
Docherty took immediate steps to reinforce his depleted squad. He met frustration head on and had to soldier on with a bunch of kids who suddenly had to grow up. |
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What started as a season of optimism became a time of consolidation. The team did reach the heady heights of seventh place in the table at one stage but did not have the know-how to sustain their challenge..
This summer, backed by the finance of the board, Docherty got his men ... on and off the field. More than £500,000 was invested In Kevin O'Callaghan (from Portsmouth), Tony Cascarino (from Gillingham), George Lawrence (from Southampton) and Steve Wood (from Reading).
"Quality, that's what I got," said Docherty, who was equally delighted with his other coup-to persuade his old Glaswegian mate Frank McLintock back into football after the disillusionment which followed his sacking at Brentford.
"That was the final piece of the jigsaw. I have always got on well with Frank. We share the same Ideas on the game and we are both enthusiastic sorts."
"Ironically, I worked as his assistant at Brentford, but I prefer to say that we are back working together rather than say he is my number two.
"O'Callaghan and Lawrence give us speed and width. Cascarino showed he can get goals and Wood is a good defender. Yes, I think First Division football is more than just a possibility. It is a legitimate target."
IN: Kevin O'Callaghan from Portsmouth, Tony Cascarino from Gillingham, Steve Wood from Reading, Wesley Reid from Arsenal, George Lawrence from Southampton. |
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Fisher Athletics' gate record was smashed when 2,494 people turned up to see their hard fought draw with dockland neighbours Millwall at Salter Road on Tuesday.
And in a battling display from the GM Vauxhall Conference side, former Millwall man John Leslie displayed superb finishing to hit a 68th minute goal past keeper Paul Sansome.
That equalised a 39th minute penalty, scored by David Byrne after Andy Massey, another former Lion, pushed Michael Marks to the ground.
Byrne should have bit a second when Jimmy Carter crossed accurately from the right minutes later, but he missed the chance and Les Briley's follow up was deflected wide.
Fisher boss Dogan Arif was delighted with the record crowd and satisfied with the result, but he was unhappy with the performance.
"When my lads heard that Millwall had broken their promise to field their new stars, they let their heads go down. They didn't get going for a long time and I had right go at them at half time.
They improved in the second half and began to do well. John Leslie looked very sharp and his goal was excellent.
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Millwall 2 Gillingham 1
Stars keep low profile by Terry Bushell
FANS expect the sparks to fly immediately from the new look Millwall team last Friday may have been disappointed.
Strikers George Lawrence and Tony Cascarino had quiet home debuts. But the team showed traditional character by storming back to victory after conceding an early own goal.
And Millwall were without other newcomers Steve Wood, who stayed on the substitutes bench, and Kevin O'Callaghan, who had a slight injury.
Lawrence signed from Southampton for £160,000 last month, seemed to lack match fitness, while Cascarino, who cost £200,000 when bought from Gillingham in June, could not find a way past his former team mates.
Gillingham, who lost out in the promotion play-offs to the Second Division last season, gelled better as a team, and only Millwall's fighting spirit gave them victory after they had gone behind to a joke own goal in the fourth minute.
Left-back Nicky Coleman, in his own six yard box, lobbed a soft back-pass to Brian Horne, only for the ball to bounce off Horne's chest and bobble over the line with Horne desperately trying to grab it.
For most of the match, after that, although Gillingham had marginally more of the play, it was Millwall who created more scoring chances.
In the 13th minute, right-back Keith Stevens had a hard close-range shot direct from a corner blocked on the line, and Cascarino blasted high the rebound.
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And Millwall equalised just before the break when midfielder Terry Hurlock pounced on a loose ball to fire with his left foot into the near corner of the net.
Stevens scored the winner five minutes into the second half when he blasted home a rebound from a Lawrence shot following a good pass from skipper Alan McLeary.
After that it was a tale of two penalties both missed. First McLeary brought down Howard Pritchard from behind, and Horne made amends for his early lapse by saying David Shearer's spot kick. Horne dived to his left to push the ball onto the post.
And, then Irvin Gernon fouled Teddy Sheringham in the area at the other end and Dave Mehmet blasted wide the penalty.
In between, Millwall cleared two shots off their line in the space of as many minutes. Stevens cleared from Karl Elsey, and Mehmet from Colin Greenall.
Former Charlton star George Shipley roamed well in midfield for the visitors but he also could not find a way through the solid Millwall defence.
Obviously the competition for places at the Den this season is going to be ferocious.
Sidelines
Out of last season's team, no fewer than four were sitting on the sidelines - Danis Salman, Les Briley, Jimmy Carter and David Byrne.
Add to this list O'Callaghan and Wood and you have half a team of good players.
Millwall: Horne, Stevens, N Coleman, Hurlock, Walker, McLeary, Lawrence, Mehmet, Sheringham, Cascarino, Carter. Subs Not Used: Sansome, Salman, Briley, Wood, Byrne.
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NEW signing Kevin O'Callaghan is Millwall's main injury worry as they prepare for tonight's pre-season friendly against Gillingham at the Den (7.30 p.m.).
O'Callaghan an £80,000 summer signing from Portsmouth, has been troubled by a stomach strain and a hamstring injury and looks unlikely to he included in tonight's starting line-up.
But £200,000 new boy Tony Cascarino looks certain to make his Den debut against his old club and GeorgeLawrence and Steve Wood are also unlikely to playas Millwall wrap up their preparations for the big kick off.
Lions manager John Docherly decided against risking any of his expensive collection of close season signings during Tuesday nights friendly against Dockland neighbours Fisher.
Instead Cascarino and his new striking partner Teddy Sheringham confirmed their vast potential with two goals apiece as Millwall beat Aldershot 4-0 in a behind closed doors work-out.
"I hope to field as strong a side as possible against Gillingham," said the Doc.
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JOHN Docherty, keeping his cards ever closer to his chest, played none of his new signings in a friendly against dockland rivals Fisher at Salter Road on Tuesday night.
He preferred to parade them behind closed doors in a 4-0 victory over Aldershot earlier in the day, new hotshot Tony Cascarino sharing the goals equally with Teddy Sheringham.
And as the Millwall manager left for an early night, his opposite number - colourful Dogan Arif - found time to fume.
"It's a liberty," said Dogan. "it was agreed they'd send their best side, 2,500 people out there were let down.
"We've had complaints already but it wasn't down to us. My players felt deflated when they heard and I had to kick their bums at half-time to snap them out of it."
Kicking bums did the trick as Fisher - new boys in the Conference League, the 'Fifth' division - looked twice as lively and earned a 1-1 draw in front of a record 2,494 crowd.
You couldn't really blame Docherty, though. Coughing up a cool half-million on Cascarino, Wood, O'Callaghan and Lawrence isn't any thing to sneeze at. And maintaining the suspense until the last possible moment is good salesmanship.
If Millwall get the right result at Middlesbrough in their first game on Saturday week, you're, looking at a good gate for the Tuesday visit of Reading.
Also, let's face it, Docherty may not have wanted to risk valuable limbs against Fisher's typically enthusiastic approach to the game. As it was, young striker Michael Marks, must have thought he was in a cup semi-final so regularly was he decked.
It was after a foul by Massey on Marks - a bit of a harsh decision - that David Byrne gave Millwall the lead from the penalty spot after 39 minutes.
Bums were duly kicked at half-time and Fisher, with flamboyant Neil Norman on to add some dash, fully deserved their 68th-minute equaliser, a superb finish, left-footed, by John Leslie.
Docherty and assistant Frank McLintock must have been fairly pleased with the skills. young Wesley Reid brought from Arsenal, while dual stoppers Alan Walker and David Thompson played with the fire sparked by the intense competition for their positions.
But the question is: will the Big Four turn out against Gillingham in another friendly at the Den tomorrow (Friday) night? Plenty will go along to find out.
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NEW-look Millwall were the only weekend winners as South London's four Football League teams stepped up their preparations for Saturday's big kick-off.
The lions beat Gillingham 2-1 at The Den next thanks to goals from, Terry Hurlock and Keith Stevens, after a horrendous error by keeper Brian Horne had presented the Third Division side with the lead.
Horne let a simple Nicky Coleman back pass slip through his hands, but Millwall's reigning player-of-the year atoned for his error later with a spectacular penalty save.
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