Millwall head of recruitment explains thinking behind striker deal – and how club have covered exit of frontman

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Millwall head of recruitment Alex Aldridge says Tom Bradshaw was never signed as a direct replacement for Lee Gregory – even though the Lions were braced for the striker to leave this summer.

Gregory ran down the final 12 months of his Den deal and joined Stoke City on a free transfer.

Bradshaw had been snapped up from Barnsley in August but suffered cruciate knee ligament damage at Brentford in November which ended his campaign.

The Wales international is back fit this season.

Millwall have also moved to add Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to their forward options as well.

The Lions could have sold Gregory last summer but made the decision he was worth more to them in terms of his contributions to their Championship cause.

“The club paid £400,000-£500,000 for Lee,” said Aldridge. “When you look at his length of service we got a hell of a lot out of him in terms of an investment.

“If it hadn’t been for Tom’s injury last year we’d have had the pair in the squad. We wanted to be stronger up front. We weren’t thinking of replacing him.

“Now he has gone, Tom has got that opportunity. We will see the best of Jon Dadi over the course of the season. He might look more a targetman, because of his height, but he is not really. He is more of a forward runner – like Lee. He wants to run channels, get in behind and chase lost causes.

“Tom Bradshaw and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson are good replacements for Lee Gregory’s attributes and freshens up squad.

“It has been Lee Gregory and Steve Morison for a long time, it’s an opportunity for other players to step up.”