League One Side Millwall Chair Writes To London Mayor To Stop Land Grab

League One side Millwill Chair John Berylson is "making a last-ditch attempt to stop Lewisham Council" from allowing its land to become privately owned by writing to London Mayor Sadiq Khan, according to Anthony Hay of the London DAILY MAIL. The club could lose land leased to it if Lewisham council's mayor and cabinet "decide to grant compulsory purchase orders" for areas surrounding its home at The Den on Wednesday. Members of the local community "would be affected" if the club loses ownership of the surrounding areas of its stadium as its community trust center is "situated on the land in question." Disadvantaged young people are "among those who benefit from the centre" and the club is doing "everything in its power" to protect the land. A "defend our Den" petition has garnered over 22,000 signatures thus far. Lewisham Council wants to sell the freeholds of three areas of land surrounding The Den "to a property developer Renewal, whose parent companies are registered offshore" (DAILY MAIL, 9/6).