Millwall owner John Berylson: It’s nuts how long we have waited for New Bermondsey regeneration scheme

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall owner John Beryslon has aired his frustration at the lack of action over New Bermondsey’s regeneration scheme.

The American started bankrolling the South London club in 2007. And there was a protracted battle with Lewisham Council over their previous plans for land around the stadium, before they removed an agreement to sell to property developers in 2019.

If the regeneration of the area does go ahead then Millwall have plans in place to increase The Den’s capacity up to 34,000.

But Berylson is fed up that it has taken decades for the situation to be resolved. It remains one of the things he hopes to see still come to fruition before his time at the Millwall helm comes to an end.

He told the South London Press: “I’ve been waiting for this great regeneration of London. That was going on before I came on board. The original plans were by Peter de Savary and were dated 2004.

Theo [Paphitis] had just left. On Peter’s original plans I saw the date in the corner – 2004. Now it’s 2021 and I’m due to be 68 on June 2. It’s nuts – I was 50 years old at the start! If that was in the United States it would’ve been done in three or four years.

“It would be good for the team, the fans, the club and the area. The whole thing is nuts to me. I’d like to see that done.

“I could have found ways to have sold the ground. It’s like Sherlock Holmes and the dog barking at the night – the dog didn’t bark. I didn’t sell the land. I’d gone through such trouble, CPOs [compulsory purchased orders] and mayors. But we haven’t budged.

“That money [from the regeneration] would go into our bank account to improve the team.

“Andy Ambler, when he was chief executive, came up with the phrase ‘future-proof the club’. In truth, that is exactly what we’re going to do. So I’d like to see this regeneration happen.

“I’d like to see Millwall benefit from it and I’d like to see this cash come into the club and this continuing income stream come into this club. I don’t depend on Millwall to buy my Red Bulls and Huski Chocolate for me. This [Millwall] is different to my other companies – which we’ve owned, bought and sold – many of which you’ve heard of and have done well.

“I know everybody expected me to sell almost 12 seconds after I bought it, or something like that. That did not occur and I hope some of the fans will accept that now.

“I know they thought I was an asset-stripper. If I’ve stripped any assets, I’d like to know where they are because I can’t find them. I’m very proud to be here as chairman of Millwall. I know we’ve outperformed most teams our size. I know people think we’re a small club – but we must be one of the better small clubs in the country.”

Millwall were last in England’s top flight in 1990 – two years before it was rebranded to the Premier League and the riches of being in England’s elite division rocketed.

“I know how many fans will be thrilled with our success and us doing well,” said Berylson. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to make them even prouder to be Millwall fans, because we pulled something off that was magnificent.

“I have no interest in being a yo-yo team. If we got ourselves promoted my question would be: ‘Okay Steve [Kavanagh, chief executive] and Gary [Rowett, manager] – what do we do now? Because I really think this is cool. How do we ensure we’re in 17th or better?’

“I’ve not taken a pound back. I’ve invested in the club.

“I want Millwall to be successful. I want the fans to keep backing the club, come back to the games when they are able to – and recognise their support of the team, both spiritually and financially, is critical to make us better.

“They should know it is not me taking money out of their back pockets, it is the guys on the pitch – who we have to pay.

“The fans have been nothing but warm and gracious to me. I feel a responsibility to do well for them. I hope we do well for them, I hope the players – from the start to whenever I finish – go out there and know they are playing for those guys. They aren’t playing for themselves – they are playing for the fans.

“Of course I’d like us to get promoted. But first I want to see us doing well and that hopefully leads to the Premier League.

“We’re one of the more straightforward and honest teams in the Championship. If someone deserves it for their better behaviour, it’s us.”

Berylson has had taxi drivers performing illegal U-turns to get his autograph. And he is also regularly approached when he is in one of his favourite Mayfair bookstores.

“Every time someone will walk up and say ‘thank you’. What do you say when someone says that? The answer is ‘you’re welcome – my pleasure’.

“I guess this is my pleasure. This is what I do. I’m enjoying it. I don’t want to be your Prime Minister, knighted or known – nothing other than the success of Millwall is what I want from you.

“I’d love Millwall fans to have a big smile on their face because of the achievements. There is nothing the team can do for me, other than win. That is my reward.

“I’m blessed to be surrounded by a management team that is very effective and I trust implicitly. They’ve done a great job.

“I’ve been fortunate in my managers – Kenny [Jackett], Neil [Harris] and Gary have all been great. It’s up to the manager to come up with the strategies and change them on the fly, which Gary does very well.”