Paphitis plots path to group stage for Lions

Millwall chairman Theo Paphitis was cautiously optimistic about his side’s chances in their first major European adventure after drawing Ferencvaros in the UEFA Cup.

The Lions qualified for the competition despite losing to Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final because of United’s involvement in the Champions League.

Player-manager Dennis Wise’s side will now face home and away legs against the Hungarians in the first round of the tournament next month, with the glittering prize a place in the lucrative group stage.

Paphitis said: “It’s a great draw, but they are probably the hardest unseeded team in our group.

“We are going to a great country to play a club with a good football pedigree. Whatever team we were drawn against would have made for a cracking game.”

The Lions are merely happy to be competing alongside the likes of Benfica, Auxerre, Lazio and Feyenoord after living long in the shadow of football hooliganism.

But no other English club has done more to eradicate that blight than Millwall, who introduced a membership scheme and bans on away fans at high-risk matches in an effort to clean up their image.

Paphitis reckons it is now time to leave that reputation behind, and he insists the first leg at the New Den on Thursday, September 16 will be a great occasion for the club.

He said: “Hopefully we will get a capacity crowd at our place for what will be an unforgettable night of European football at The Den.”

Ferencvaros are Hungary’s most successful team, with 27 league titles to their name, and will play host to the Lions in the second leg in Budapest on Thursday, September 30.

Paphitis admitted Millwall boss Wise, a veteran of European campaigns with Chelsea, was hoping for another unusual destination in Friday’s draw in Monaco.

He told the official club website www.millwallfc.co.uk: “I spoke to Dennis a few minutes after the draw and he was a bit disappointed – he wanted to go to Ukraine because he has never played there before.

“I told him we can wait to go there for the group stage games instead!

Seriously, for Millwall to be one of six British teams in Europe is a great honour.”