MILLWALL have confirmed they have offered professional contracts to five of their academy players.
Academy boss Scott Fitzgerald has decided to extend the stays of James Brown, Noah Chesmain, Harry Girling, Harry Donovan and Rian Bray at the club.
Left-back Chesmain (pictured) already has first-team experience when he came on as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Bury last November.
Girling was in the matchday squad recently to cover for David Forde when he missed the fixtures against Bradford and Burton.
Midfielder Donovan was given the chance to earn a deal after leaving Arsenal, with whom he had participated in first-team training.
There are also high hopes for Brown and Bray.
Fitzgerald believes the progress of players such as Ben Thompson and Sid Nelson this season is motivation for the youngsters to take the next step in their careers as he also sounded a note of caution.
Fitzgerald told the club’s website: “All five of them have worked incredibly hard to get to this stage, but as I told them in person, it is important that they see this as just the very beginning.
“It takes a lot to succeed in professional football and each of them will have to continue showing what they have done and then some more if they are to maintain their progress here at Millwall.
“They have seen several academy graduates make an impact in the first team throughout this season and last so have the template of just how much dedication, desire and application they need to display in every training session from here on in.”
Millwall also this week confirmed that Ebere Eze, Mikael Ndjoli, Ronnie O’Donnell, James Fitzgerald and Alex Mulrooney-Skinner would not be offered professional deals.