Neil Harris on Millwall’s transfer business: “If something comes up that we want to do or feel the need to do then we will do before Thursday”
BY JAKE SANDERS
Neil Harris does not expect to be busy before the transfer window closes on Thursday – and admitted he is content with his current group of players.
The Lions boss has made no less than nine signings so far in a summer of transition at The Den, which had included the departures of ten first-team players.
He said: “What I said at the Fans Forum the other night was that I’m happy with the group we’ve got. If something [changes] then we have to act. We’ll have to see how Frankie [Frank Fielding] is and get a clearer picture, is he going to be out for a week or longer term. Once we’ve got that we can make an assessment.
“But with goalkeepers it’s different, you can sign goalkeepers after the window shuts because a goalkeeper has to have started five senior games to be classed as a first-team player.
“Other than that, a player to go out, possibly. Obviously the loan window stays open until 3rd September for the lower leagues. If something comes up that we want to do or feel the need to do then we will do before Thursday. I’m so pleased with the players that we’ve brought in and the changes we’ve made. I’m quite content.
“I’m not too worried about last season, that’s been and gone. It’s a new era with a new group of players, and the experience of players that have been here for a period is vital.
“You can’t just get 20 out and 20 in. I wanted to retain the players that showed qualities last year that I liked working with and I brought characters in that have got different sorts of qualities. Some are natural talkers and leaders like Alex Pearce, some just go about their business like good pros.”
Harris added: “The key for our success this year is training standards; standards on and off the pitch and players wanting to develop to be better. And you need your little bit of luck. We lost Frankie [Saturday], you need your luck with injuries, illness and suspensions but it’s a good start for us.”
PICTURE BY BRIAN TONKS