History Repeating Itself. First the tragedy…… Just over ten years ago Millwall fans arguably endured the worst period in our history. Worse than any draconian membership scheme, six nil losses at home. As the The Lions Roar’s front cover said “One Hour to the Death of Millwall FC”. 30 January 1997 was when the excesses of the previous years, our failure to get into the Premiership and a few dodgy investments saw the club minutes away from bankruptcy and liquidation. Second the farce…… Fast forward to March 2007 and a similarly defining point in Millwall’s history beckons. Rumours, not 100% substantiated, suggest the football club was again near to bankruptcy. The panacea of the regeneration was still months, if not years away. After “months of negotiations”, a white knight in the form of an American Venture Capital firm is willing to invest up to £5 million into the holdings company. Not any old investment, but a loan with some strings, sorry conditions attached to it. Conditions of which more astute financial observers than me are suspicious about. Late March and the Holdings Company Board is to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting to secure shareholder approval for the loan from across the pond. The Board, The Lions Trust, FOTB and others are all nailing their colours firmly to the mast and encouraging support. Life at Millwall however is never that simple, and the past week has seen a new private investor buy shares on the open market. In normal circumstances that would be fine; as buying shares is what some would have liked the American investors to do. But one of the main questions about this new investor is WHY?. Running their name through Google, tells of relationships with past Millwall chairmen, and a cunning ability to overturn planning covenants and blind planning authorities. The Den currently enjoys a covenant protecting its use for just football and a few other sporting events. However the appearance of an individual with experience at sidestepping planning convention has started discussions on the internet about the unthinkable. The Den might not be sacrosanct after all. The American Venture Capitalists on the other hand have pushed their ‘sporting’ credentials, although doubts still remain as to their business motives and their plans for the regeneration. Doubts that will undoubtedly grow, if they don’t to use an american sporting term, “step up to the plate” and bat off this apparent curveball from mysterious new investor. Tragedy first, farce second, what is the next stage in Millwall’s history? THE END? TAMP