Millwall boss Kenny Jackett: London 2012 Olympics makes our preparations harder

Millwall manager Kenny Jackett has admitted that the London 2012 Olympics will make his preparations harder than usual.

The Lions, like all London clubs, are forced to play the majority of their pres-season schedule away from London due to a police ban on additional sporting events in the capital.

The south Londoners will have a tour of Ireland before trips to Crawley, Exeter and Southend.

“They’ll be competitive, high-tempo games against lower league sides, and we’re looking forward to those,” he told the club’s official site.

“With the Olympics close by, we have to be mindful of our organisation, our set-up and our travel arrangements, because it’s going to be slightly different and it’s going to be tough.

“We accept that and we’ll work around it.”

“I’m very pleased to get these games, plus the Ireland tour, because it means we have a good run of games to get everyone match fit.

“Our preparation is going to be vital because we want to start the new season how we finished the last one. We don’t want to be making up the numbers, we don’t want to be at the wrong end of the table - we want to make an impression on the division.

“That has to be impressed on the players as soon at they return for pre-season.”