Keith Millen: Ambitious Croydon Athletic will be a target for Isthmian League South East Division rivals
edmund@slpmedia.co.ukNew AFC Croydon Athletic boss Keith Millen expects the club to have a target on their backs due to the names they are able to attract to the Mayfield Stadium.
The Rams – owned by Crystal Palace icon Wilfried Zaha and rapper Stormzy – announced the appointment of former Eagles assistant boss Millen last week.
They have been able to attract a number of former Palace prodigies to non-league level with Nya Kirby, Brandon Pierrick, Sam Woods and Luke Dreher plying their trade with the Isthmian League South East Division side.
Millen suffered a 1-0 defeat at Three Bridges on his debut in charge of the club, whose chairman is Palace’s former player liaison Danny Young.
Millen told the South London Press: “It will be about how quickly you can jump up the leagues, but you can’t do that overnight. If you look at Wrexham, they missed out on a couple of promotions before it started working.
“A lot of clubs will look at it and it will be a big game coming up against us. They will think: ‘They have got this and that.’
“We have to know as a group that the expectation levels will be higher because of the story behind the club.”
Millen, who has also held senior managerial roles at Carlisle and Bristol City, worked with Zaha for multiple seasons during their time at Selhurst Park.
When asked if he saw the now 32-year-old becoming a football club owner during their time together, Millen admitted: “Not really.
“He’s having a fantastic career and he still has plenty of time to carry on playing. It’s great for Wilf and Stormzy – they’re Croydon boys.
“Their reasoning behind owning the club and wanting to give back to the community and build something is a great story.
“When you talk about the plans that they have got for the club and the area, I’m sure they’re in it for the long haul and I’m sure it will be a success.
“It’s an exciting project and hopefully I can play my part in it.”
Attacker Kirby was tipped for a bright future and was included in the England U17 squad that won the World Cup in 2017 – a team which included the likes of Premier League stars Marc Guehi, Morgan Gibbs-White and Phil Foden.
Pierrick, 22, played three times for the Eagles at senior level and also had spells in Denmark at Vejle Boldklub and in Scotland with Kilmarnock.
Millen said: “Danny has been speaking with me quite a lot over the last few months. I have seen four games, and when I saw the players who were here, I have been around six or seven of them from my time at Palace.
“It’s an interesting story with all of them and where they have gone with their careers and some of them are young enough to go again.
“The idea of me trying to help them become better and get to where they want to, I really enjoy that side of coaching.
“They’re exciting players and very attacking. There is a big connection with Palace and when you look at players from this area, those are the players you find.
“There are a lot of technically gifted players who have maybe lost their way a little bit or need to learn the game.
“That’s the best part of the job for me. If they want to get back into the professional game, I will try and help them.
“It was a big factor in me taking the role.”
Millen will be dropping down to non-league level for the first time in his coaching career, balancing his role at the PFA as a coach educator alongside his commitments with AFC Croydon.
“It will be a big adjustment for me,” said Millen. “I’m very conscious that I can’t overload the players because I won’t be seeing them every day.
“I have to try and filter down how much information I can give them to help them.
“I have worked in all the leagues in this country and abroad for a few years, so I have always been able to adjust to the environment I’m working in.
“It’s the same with this. I come from Croydon and I’m really looking forward to it. There is a big connection with Crystal Palace and it all links together really nicely.
“There is a big gap to make up to the play-offs at least, but there is enough games. You want to win every game but there is enough talent in this squad to have a good season still.”
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