Money for nothing

Theo Paphitis has warned fans that protests against him could scare off potential investors.

Angry supporters jeered acting chairman Paphitis during Saturday's defeat against Crewe and hundreds gathered to call for him to resign after the match.

But he is determined to stay until the right investor is found and admitted one candidate had expressed doubts after seeing the protests.

Paphitis said: 'The jeers did not help. What would my leaving benefit the club? At the moment I am the one who is keeping things together.

'We were talking to a couple of people about taking over from me, but one called after Saturday saying 'After everything you have achieved, what chance have I got?'

'I have fought for Millwall against the FA and the newspapers.

'I love this club and am prepared to take whatever stick they want to give me.

'I have put my neck on the line and the club has had eight years of success beyond our wildest dreams. If people just do not like me, that is tough, because I have to stay for now because the club comes first.

'If the club does not come first for these people, they are not true fans.'

Paphitis believes the club represents a good investment and admitted he is ready to quit the board if that helps seal a deal.

He said: 'I have given my life to the club, but I would be happy to stand down today, if we had the right candidate.

'No one needs to buy me out. And we have one of the lowest debts in this division - a fraction of Gillingham, QPR and of course Derby, Ipswich and Cardiff.

'If a new chairman wanted me to leave the board entirely, I would just buy a season ticket and leave it at that.

'But the candidate must be right. We have spent 18 months looking, using every network we have, including overseas, and we have not got it right yet.

'Of the six candidates we have spoken to, those who know Millwall do not have the finance necessary, and people who have the money do not understand the club.'