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Maybe it's the new regime but it's hard to resist hitting Theo Paphitis with the proverbial stick one last time. When Theo was in charge – particularly since 2002 – signings were short on the ground. Every now and then we'd be linked to a player only for the deal to go tits up over supposed wage demands or transfer fees and to be honest, that looked to be the case again this summer when the move for goalkeeper Colin Doyle feel through over the club's offer. But with the arrival of new manager Nigel Spackman hardly a week went passed without the club signing another player. In a strange twist of fate, rumours were becoming a reality – something that hasn't happened at The Den in a long while.
It started off with the “Big Three” shortly after Gavin Grant and Adam Cottrell arrived. Storied began to filter out of Zampa Road about Darren Byfield, Zak Whitbread and Lenny Pidgeley almost from the off, but past experiences warned us to take them with a pinch of salt so they were quickly dismissed. However, they continued to linger and although no firm sightings could be confirmed, the rumours began to gather pace and before we knew it, all three had signed. And it didn't stop there.
Goalkeeper Chris Day arrived shortly afterwards and then a Portuguese winger from Chelsea no less turned up by the name of Filipe Morais. Then it got really silly with former Scottish international Derek McInnes signing up along with is fellow countryman, Tom Brighton and Coventry's Richard Shaw riding into town. Ten new players in less than ten weeks. And it looks like there may be even more new arrivals before the week is out with Chris Hackett, Maurice Ross, Neal Ardley and Poul Hübertz all expected to sign.
Conversely, it's been a good summer for those wishing to escape through the nearest exit from The Den, with all the dead wood and want-aways being released early on, including Andy Marshall (who ended up at Coventry City), Josh Simpson and Sammy Igoe, who will forever be remembered as Steve Claridge's sole signing as Millwall manager. And it got better when we finally found a buyer for David Livermore's left-foot – and what a sale! £400,000 for a much-derided player who became the first Player of the Year to be booed while collecting his award. Bargain. To cap it all, former chairman Theo Paphitis finally quit The Den to concentrate on his budding TV career. It was as if Christmas had come early.
Of course, it hasn't all been a bed of roses. Dutch striker Berry Powel was released without ever being given a chance to show what he could do while Barry Hayles left for the West Country after apparently sulking in training. Matt Lawrence and Marvin Elliot also want out – but with no one interested in signing him it looks like Shaggy will still be here come next season while Starvin' Marvin is apparently having his head turned by his agent. The cad.
But despite these little setbacks, the outlook is surprisingly rosy as we head into the new season. Who knows, we could bounce straight back but that would be just too optimistic, even for the most optimistic of Millwall supporters.