Millen ‘no nearer’ to reinforcements

Bristol City boss Keith Millen admits he is “no nearer” to making defensive signing’s to boost his fragile defence.

The Robins have already shipped six goals in three pre-season friendlies against lower league opposition this summer, leaving the gaffer to scour to loan market for reinforcements.

But, with less than three weeks to go until the new season kicks off, Millen is facing mounting pressure from concerned supporters to bolster his backline before the beginning of the campaign.

“We’re letting in too many goals and that is not acceptable,” Millen conceded.

“I don’t think it is any secret that we’ve needed a left-back for a long time now and, since Steven Caulker went back to Tottenham at the end of last season, we have been on the lookout for a tall first-ball-winning centre-half, someone who can command in the air.

“But it’s gone quiet in the transfer market for the minute and it’s gone quiet both ways, in terms of bringing players in and moving them out.”

So far this summer, Millen has been rebuffed in his attempts to bring Gareth McAuley, Billy Jones, Steven Caulker, Jordan Spence and Andrew Taylor to Ashton Gate.

And Millen is finding it hard to offload expensive flops from previous managers, such as Nicky Hunt, Damion Stewart, Lee Johnson and David Clarkson, which would free up wages to compete in the transfer market.

He continued: “If individuals are not doing what we are asking of them, then it can only be their fault.

“Our best run of results last season came when we were solid defensively and, in the three games we have played this summer, we have been nowhere near that.

“We’re still waiting on three or four phone calls and, who knows, we might get a ‘yes’ one day.”