NEIL Harris has said it is a “changing era at the football club” this summer.
Millwall announced their retained list last week and revealed 18 players would not be offered new deals.
Harris believes this will allow the younger players to break through quicker, and have better examples set to them, going forward.
And the Lions manager revealed some of the players released were not being the best of role models for the academy graduates last season.
“We’ve let some players move on to different challenges, we’re looking at a different Millwall style, different recruitment policy and we’re looking at giving younger players a chance to come through.
“That’s the typical Millwall way; you do your apprenticeship and you get your opportunity to play in the first team.
“Yes, I’ll have an opportunity to bring some players in to boost the squad, of course, and I’ll be judged on that and I’ll also be judged on the Millwall way and giving young players the chance by being patient with them and also letting them flourish in the first team.”
Millwall fans have already been given a glimpse of the future with academy products Sid Nelson, Aiden O’Brien, Jack Powell and more recently Jamie Philpot and Alfie Pavey getting a run in the team.
But Harris has said there were some of the players he let go that were not setting the best of examples for the youngsters making their way into the first team.
“Some of the players that have left definitely haven’t set a good example for the young lads to follow,” Harris explained.
“That’s a big thing for us next season, the young players need to have examples and standards set to them by other players, and if players can’t reach those standards they aren’t going to be in my squad.”
Being role models to the young crop of talent coming through is something that Harris is keen to get over to any potential signings, and added there were a variety of other reasons most of the 18 were released by the club.
“There’s loads of different reasons,” Harris added. “Some don’t hit the standard that this club demands – there were certainly some players in the squad we had that didn’t hit the standards of professionalism, and in training abilities.
“Sometimes you only see what’s on the pitch for 90 minutes, you don’t see the whole ins-and-outs.
“I think there’s all different reasons for retaining players and letting players leave. I won’t necessary talk about individuals at this stage. As a group there we’re players, where locality wise, wanted to move away and be nearer home.
“Financially we can’t compete with Championship clubs, we couldn’t compete with them this year, we certainly can’t compete next year with Championship offers for players.
“Some of the players have had offers already at a higher level and we’re not prepared to pay ridiculous wages for the level we are at.”