Steve Lomas' transfer policy - trouble for Millwall FC?

Article by Millwall correspondent Harry Fabian

Since Steve Lomas took over at Millwall back in June, Millwall fans have been treated to an array of top quality championship signings. During previous manager Kenny Jackett's reign, we had grown accustomed to the odd loan or free transfer but things have since changed at The Den and at face value it seems Lomas' dealings can only mean good for the club, but if we look deeper we'd see there could be future trouble for Millwall, long after Lomas has gone.

During the Summer transfer window and the following weeks after, Steve Lomas made an incredible 12 signings – compare that to just 5 made by Kenny Jackett the year before. Granted these players have actually cost a grand total of £0, but their wages constitute a great number. Chairman John Berylson granted Lomas a player budget of £9 million – more than the club has ever had. When Lomas arrived, he had £2 million at his disposal plus whatever he could get for any players leaving the club.

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The majority of the signings have pleased the Millwall faithful. Fan favourite Steve Morison has returned whilst experienced players such as Scott McDonald and Nicky Bailey have joined the club – all high earners. These signings gave Millwall fans and real hope and positivity ran through all the message boards. Success seemed to be on the horizon.

Then Millwall lost their opening 3 games without scoring and soon enough Lomas was under real pressure. The fans had suddenly remembered he was a West Ham legend and the large proportion wanted him gone. A play-off hopeful side had turned into a relegation struggler in a matter of 2 weeks, but then again this is football we're talking about.

Now let's talk about the money. The one thing that ultimately determines the success of the football club. With Financial Fair Play ready to kick in, you'd think Millwall would maintain their conservative approach towards transfer dealings but Berylson has seemingly gambled on instant success – perhaps a dream sold to him by Lomas back in June.

A better squad = better results = promotion = financial security for the foreseeable future

The flip side of this is a financial crisis. Stagnation would see Millwall's 10,000-strong crowds insufficient in keeping Millwall afloat financially which would lead to, under FFP rules, points deductions and eventually relegation.

Berylson has said repeatedly we need bigger crowds. But the Millwall fans don't want to turn up and waste a good £30 of their money to see us getting thrashed 5-1 by Derby or to be silenced by 500 Yeovil fans. The fact that Lomas is ex-West Ham has driven away some of the core of the fan base and attendance figures have unsurprisingly been hit as a result. Unless these figures rise dramatically or the wages somehow decrease, Millwall could soon be in League One (again).

Furthermore, we're currently losing money due to our incompetent board. 2 years ago, winger James Henry was being tipped for a Scotland call-up, but because the board have stalled on offering him a new contract, he looks set to join Wolves for a measly £250,000. The same could happen to Liam Trotter at the end of this season. His contract expires next summer but Chief Executive Andy Ambler has once again dithered. Trotter, who was scouted by Arsenal a couple of seasons ago, could leave for nothing. Shane Lowry, Andy Keogh and keeper David Forde are all in the same boat. That's potentially millions of pounds lost all down to a slow and out-of-touch hierarchy.

It doesn't make for pretty reading at the moment for us Millwall fans. Long-term stability and security isn't going to be achieved by wasting £10,000 a week on players like Shaun Derry, who can't even make the bench.

It seems Lomas thinks quick signings will equal quick success.

He signed Derry even though there is an 18 year old youth player, Fred Onyedinma, tipped to be a hot prospect. He was also looking to sign 32 year old Stephen Hunt, despite having 2 player already in the same position. He does this despite the fact that it's the current squad needs time to gel, something he has himself admitted so how he thinks even more new players will bring about success is beyond me.

Without a youth system, a football club with Millwall's attendances cannot survive. The last youth player to come through and properly establish himself was Paul Robinson and he's now 31. That's embarrassing. You can look at clubs like Peterborough for inspiration. They bought Dwight Gayle for £500,000 and 6 months later sold him for £6 million. They've done the same with George Boyd and Craig Mackail-Smith. They gamble on young players and actually play them, something Lomas and Jackett never do/did.

As a fan, I suppose I shouldn't be too bothered about the wages and the money, that's the board's problem, right? But when we see huge clubs such as Portsmouth and Rangers completely crumble, it's hard to not worry just a little bit about my little club in south-east London. I can't imagine Mr Berylson is too happy either. The club, and subsequently Berylson, are currently losing roughly £6 million/year. It's hard to see our chairman not packing his bags and cutting his losses in the near future unless something changes the trend we're currently following.

On the up side, results at The Den have started to improve and hopefully we'll steer well clear of the bottom 6 soon enough but I'm not convinced. Call me a pessimist but things can only get worse from now on.

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