Millwall

Millwall
Dennis Wise has left his post as Millwall player-boss after a meeting with new club chairman Jeff Burnige. "I've had a meeting with the new chairman, he told me his direction and I didn't agree," said Wise. Wise led his team for the final time in a goalless draw with Burnley on the last day of the season as the Lions finished 10th in the Championship. Assistant boss Ray Wilkins said earlier this season that he would not seek to replace Wise should he leave the club. Wise took the managerial reins at the New Den in October 2003, having joined the club as a player in September 2002. He made a mixed start, beating Sheffield United 2-0 but getting sent off just four minutes after bringing himself on as a substitute. The team reached the FA Cup final against the odds last season, losing 3-0 to Manchester United in the final but claiming a place in the Uefa Cup.

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Wilkins announces Millwall exit
Millwall assistant boss Ray Wilkins has revealed he will leave the club as soon as a replacement for departed manager Dennis Wise is appointed. Wilkins told the club's website: "I confirmed to chairman Jeff Burnige that I have no interest in taking the manager's job here. "I will depart when a new manager is appointed but I have promised to stay until that happens. "I will give the new manager all the information I can about the squad." Wise resigned as manager after the final game of the season on Sunday.

Norwich play down link with Ward
Norwich have denied reports they want to sign Millwall defender Darren Ward. Several clubs, including Norwich and Sheffield United, have been linked with the 26-year-old. "As far as player identification for next season things are in place," Norwich boss Nigel Worthington told the Eastern Daily Press newspaper. "But as for any agreement being sorted out with Millwall for Darren Ward there's absolutely no truth in that whatsoever. He's not on our list." Ward joined Millwall from Watford for £500,000 in October 2001.

Craig signs new Millwall contract
Defender Tony Craig, 26, has signed a new two-year deal with Millwall. The Lions are in between managers after Dennis Wise's departure, but chairman Jeff Burnige is busy preparing and deciding on players for the new season. "We have formally taken up the options for a further year on the contracts of Mark Phillips, Ben May and young keeper Terry Masterson," Burnige said. "All those players will now be with us next season but there are still one or two things to do."

Dunne set to sign Millwall deal
Defender Alan Dunne is set to sign a new deal at managerless Millwall. The 22-year-old told the Lions' website: "I've been offered a new contract, and I want to stay and help Millwall push for promotion. "It was a frustrating end to last season after getting a six-match suspension and then an injury. Before that, things were going well. "Now I'm looking forward to coming back after a bit of a rest, and I'm hoping to establish myself as a regular."

Blades complete swoop for Ifill
Sheffield United have completed the signing of Millwall winger Paul Ifill for an initial £800,000. Ifill, 25, has signed a three-year deal with the Bramall Lane club and the fee could rise to £1m depending on appearances and the Blades' progress. "He's a player I've wanted to sign for years," United boss Neil Warnock said. "He is the type of player we want - strong, quick, at a great age and I believe he could walk into a Premiership side already." Ifill becomes the Blades' second signing of the week, following the arrival of Leicester City midfielder Lilian Nalis. Warnock added: "I think with Paul, Lilian and two or three others I want to bring in, supporters can see we are trying to bring in the quality needed to supplement what is already a very good squad. "It's great for Sheffield United fans to see the club bringing in this type of quality because it shows just which direction the directors and I want the club to go in." Ifill has struggled with an ankle injury in recent months but recovered to play in the final few games of last season.

Millwall quash boss speculation
Millwall chairman Jeff Burnige says there is no truth in the speculation linking various names with the managerial vacancy at The Den. Burnidge told the club's website: "I am hopeful that an appointment will be made and announced later this week. "However, I would repeat that much of what has been seen in the papers is the result of other people's interests and not that of Millwall." Newspaper reports have linked Brentford boss Martin Allen with the position.

Player quizzed over party fracas
Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has been questioned by police after a disturbance during a footballer's stag party at a Hertfordshire hotel. Police confirmed the player was quizzed after a guest was sprayed with a fire extinguisher at the Grove Hotel, Watford, at about 0250 BST on Monday. Stoke defender Michael Duberry and Millwall midfielder Jody Morris, whose stag party it was, were also quizzed. Herts Police said no-one was arrested in connection with the alleged assault. Officers said it was unclear who, if any, of the footballers were involved in the incident. A police spokeswoman said: "We were called to the Grove Hotel in Watford... to a report of a disturbance between a small number of residents. "Two police officers attended and spoke to the people involved. "A complaint of common assault has been alleged and reported as a result and police are currently investigating that. "The allegation is the victim was sprayed in the face with a fire extinguisher." Jody Morris married Louise Winstanley on Monday afternoon.

Redknapp hoping to snap up Wise
Southampton boss Harry Redknapp wants Dennis Wise to bolster Saints' attempt to bounce back into the Premiership. Wise, 38, quit as Millwall player-boss at the end of the season after falling out with new chairman Jeff Burnige. Redknapp has made an offer to the midfielder, who is also being courted by QPR, and said: "I'd love to bring him here and I'm certainly trying to. "He's the sort of player I'm after, I want to bring in players with character and experience." Redknapp has a track record of successfully using experienced players. He signed Paul Merson to help his previous club Portsmouth win promotion, and then brought in Teddy Sheringham to keep Pompey in the top flight. Redknapp said: "We've made him an offer but it may be that he feels he's better off elsewhere. "It's going to be a very open division and a real battle to go straight back up. "There are going to be about nine teams in with a chance of automatic promotion. "I'll have to get rid of a few players but it's just as important that we keep our better ones like Peter Crouch, who has to stay." If Redknapp lands his man, Wise will complete a full circle in returning to Southampton. Wise was an apprentice at The Dell but was released after failing to make an impression. After leaving Saints, he went on to win 21 England caps, as well as FA Cup winners' medals with Wimbledon and Chelsea.

Ward completes £1.5m Palace move
Crystal Palace have completed the capture of Millwall's 26-year-old central defender Darren Ward. Palace will pay £1.1m, rising to £1.5m depending on appearances for Ward who has signed a three-year deal which will keep him at Selhurst Park until 2008. Millwall chairman Jeff Burnige told Lions' website: "At least three clubs were considering bids of around £1m, one of them was a Premiership club. "The fee agreed represents good business for our club." Ward could face his former Millwall team-mates in the Championship next season and Burnige said: "Darren seemed determined to move. "When Crystal Palace made their offer, it threw a spanner in the works. "Once Darren had made his decision, the board had to accept it. "I'm sure that our fans would have wanted him to move to the Premiership, and not to one of our fiercest rivals. "I made it abundantly clear to Darren, his advisors and many enquiring clubs that Millwall were not seeking to make him available for transfer."

Wise 'close to Southampton deal'
Former Millwall manager Dennis Wise is close to agreeing a contract with Southampton, says his agent Eric Hall. Hall told BBC Radio Solent: "There's a 90% chance it will happen - he proved that he likes a challenge at Millwall, and that he still likes to play. "He is happy. Southampton is a good club, and they'll be back in the top flight before you can say Dennis Wise." Wise, 38, was released by the Saints as an 18-year-old, but has been offered a contract by boss Harry Redknapp. Earlier, Redknapp said: "I'd love to bring him here and I'm certainly trying to. "He's the sort of player I'm after. I want to bring in players with character and experience." Wise quit as Millwall player-boss at the end of the season after falling out with new chairman Jeff Burnidge.

Sweeney contract talks to resume
Millwall will continue contract talks with Peter Sweeney when he returns from international duty. Sweeney is currently away with the Scotland Under-21 squad, who face a crucial match against Moldova. But the 20-year-old will return next Thursday and chairman Jeff Burnige is expected to resume the on-going contract talks with the player. Sweeney joined the Lions as a trainee in August 2001 and has since made more than 50 appearances for the club.

Lions contest FA 'racism' charge
Millwall are to appeal against an FA charge of misconduct for the alleged racist behaviour of fans in the Carling Cup tie with Liverpool last year. If the appeal fails the south London club may have to play a match behind closed doors and pay £32,500 in fines. But Millwall said they will contest the charge and "fully expect to win". A club statement read: "We don't accept that our fans were behaving in a racist manner, nor that we could've done any more to monitor their behaviour." Liverpool's 3-0 win at the New Den on 27 October was marred by scenes of violence at the end of the match. Sixty-eight seats were ripped out and hurled onto the pitch as riot police attempted to contain the visiting fans. The club were fined £25,000 for the alleged racist behaviour of their fans, and a further £7,500 for their "failure to prevent spectators throwing missiles at or onto the pitch". But the Millwall statement continued: "The FA's charge flagrantly contradicts the facts placed before the commission which met at Soho Square over three days at the end of March. "The decision flies in the face of the evidence given by chief superintendent Archie Torrance, the senior match commander, of the Metropolitan Police. "No allegations of racist behaviour were made to stewards or police at the match."

Millwall hint at move for Burley
Millwall are close to announcing a new manager to replace Dennis Wise and could make a move for George Burley. The Scot quit as Derby manager on Tuesday and chairman Jeff Burnige said he would take his interest "further." "I came close to making an appointment recently, but now a new candidate in George Burley has emerged. "Given what he has achieved in the game, I am bound to be interested in someone of his quality," Burnige told the club website. "I can confirm that the wheels are in motion, although I still want to keep my cards fairly close to my chest. "I anticipate making a further announcement next Tuesday."

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