De Savary's 5-year plan

Last updated : 30 November 2005 By Alex Aldridge
Peter De Savary
PDeS: Five-year plan
New Millwall chairman Peter De Savary has outlined his plans for the clubs future and aims to establish the Lions in the Premiership within 5 years.

"Within five years we want to be one of the top 15 clubs in the country," said De Savary.

"We must get there, and we need to figure out how we can achieve it. The odds are against us, and most of my friends thought I was barking mad to take on Millwall - but that is the challenge.

"The invitation from the board to become chairman of Millwall was one about which I was initially apprehensive, and I wasn't sure that I would be the right person."

"But once I understood everything, I saw that it would be a great challenge and a great opportunity."

But De Savary has not yet confirmed that current manager Colin Lee will be staying at the club for much longer. He refused to comment as he has only met Lee once.

"I'm going to sit down with the management, and make a short-term plan, a medium-term plan and a long-term plan."

"People will be made accountable. If they deliver and perform, they will do well at Millwall; if they cannot do that, they will be out - and that starts with me.

"The money that is needed for our strategy will be forthcoming, but I do not have a quick solution.I am not a quick, instant fix. The most important things we can do is to start winning some football matches. But we must avoid relegation, and our immediate focus has to be upon that."

Although it is likely he will help Lee during the January transfer window, he has admitted that he is not expert on football.

He also confessed that he will probably not attend every Millwall fixture, unlike Theo Paphitis who sat in the front frow of the executive box during every home fixture.

"I believe I am the right man in the right place at the right time. I am looking forward to taking Millwall to further success."