MILLWALL’s stance on youth still applies for the forthcoming campaign despite missing out on promotion to the Championship in May.
The Lions will again look to integrate youth from the academy into the senior squad as effectively as they did last season.
And Millwall’s chief executive Andy Ambler feels with the current crop of youth getting another year under their belt, the team will be in a better position to mount a challenge for a place in England’s second tier come August.
“The strategy is to use the academy to bring players through,” Ambler said.
“Our fans like that, they like their own, like most fans do – they seem to like it more than most other places.
“We spend £1.3million to £1.5million a year on the academy system, we are hoping to bring a couple more into the first team next year.
“That’s the strategy, we aren’t changing it because we didn’t get over the final hurdle.”
Ambler added: “When we do end up getting promoted to the Championship, we will need those players to be able to flourish in that environment.
“League One is tough to get promoted out of, the games come thick and fast, it’s really tough.
“But if players like Ben Thompson, Jordan Archer and the rest get another 40-odd games under their belt, if we get to the Championship, it’ll be a better thing for us.”
Image source: ©Millwall FC