By Stephen 18
February 18 2005

Stephen Eighteen of the Southwark News reports on the simmering dispute between Millwall chairman-to-be Jeff Burnige and current player boss Dennis Wise. Disturbingly for Lions fans, it's an argument that is being largely conducted through the media. A prominent member of an influential Millwall supporters’ group has backed incoming chairman Jeff Burnige in the Dennis Wise money dispute.

The Millwall manager questioned his future at the club last weekend amid claims that Burnige told him no more cash could be raised for further loan signings this season.

Burnige does not officially take over until the end of the campaign, but Wise says he is already at “conflict” with Theo Paphitis’ successor.

Wise’s comments came after he and his Millwall side were jeered off the pitch at half time and at the final whistle in last Saturday’s goalless draw at Gillingham.

And though Burnige has refused to make a statement on the alleged rift, the chair of the Lions Trust – which has the fourth highest vote in the boardroom – leapt to his defence.

Bob Asprey said: “Given that the new chairman does not start until the summer, it is difficult to see why he has chosen to criticise Jeff Burnige.

“Under Wise we have had an almost unprecedented spending spree, and though he contributed towards it by reaching the FA Cup, he has got a lot of players he wanted to get in,” said Asprey.

“He says he wants a left back and I can only assume it is because he has been unable to get the people in he wants.

“But it’s nearly a year since Robbie Ryan left and so it seems very strange that now he seems unhappy that there’s no money for a left back.”

Asprey refused to add fuel to speculation that Wise is trying to engineer his way out of the Den with the timing of his attack, and underlined his belief that Burnige is still the right man for the job.

“As a fan I am backing Jeff Burnige on the wider principle that given the board have failed to find a new investor to come in, then he is the next best thing.

“He is part of the Millwall family and this way we avoid any of the traumas that might occur with someone completely from the outside.

“If it was Lonestar Partners or even Gianluca Vialli – who knows what might have happened? But Jeff is someone who understands the club and the importance of the fans.”

Asprey also supported last weekend’s boo boys at Gillingham, in the face of Wise protesting it was “unfair”.

He added: “It’s our right, and our duty, to let our feelings known, and after the last two games fans have every right to be unhappy.”

However, Darren Ward has urged supporters to put their grievances to one side and get behind Millwall in the home game against Stoke this Saturday.

The centre back believes a repeat performance of the abuse dished out at Gillingham would be self-destructive towards the club’s hopes of realising their promotion dream.

“I don’t see how chanting like they did on Saturday is going to help us in any way,” Ward told Lions World. “They’re a massive influence, and whether it’s nil-nil at half we need them to be positive for the next game. I think it’s the only way forward.

“There’s been injuries and suspensions and all sorts. When we get that together there’s no reason why we can’t go on a good run.

“Stoke are a very good team. Defensively they’ve done very well and are hard to break down. We’ve got to be tight at the back and hope to get a goal.”