LIONS' boss Nigel Spackman has issued a rallying roar for fans to get behind his team and be the 12th man which could seal promotion back to the Championship.

The new manager stressed how the fresh stability in Millwall's board attracted him to the role and is the foundation for pushing the club forward.

In fact during his opening press conference, moving the club forward was mentioned no fewer than eight times a sign everyone wants to forget and disassociate themselves from past disasters.

Spackman, who has signed a two-year contract, said: "I know how passionate Millwall fans are but you don't want to watch a losing team, you want to watch a successful side.

"This is what we have got to try and build here, do it and the fans will come back.

"But for all those supporters out there who are deciding whether or not to get a season ticket, I would say: Hey, come down. Get behind the team because your support in this division will be like an extra man on the field'."

Spackman, who has been working as a Sky Sports pundit since leaving Barnsley in 2002, was one of six people approached by Millwall for the job vacated by Dave Tuttle after relegation to League One.

The 45-year-old said: "It is good to be back and it is great to be at a club with great tradition but which has, over the past 12 to 18 months, lost its way and hopefully I am the right appointment to move the club forward.

"I have had great discussions with the board and with their backing we can hopefully move the club forward, stabilise it and get the building blocks in place to challenge for promotion this season."

The first building block on the playing side was laid last week when last season's top goal scorer Ben May signed a two-year contract.

May, 22, said: "I spoke with the new manager briefly and I cannot wait to start working with him now.

"Nigel has a reputation for being excellent with his players and getting his teams to play good football and this is something I really want to experience."

Spackman's football career began at lowly Andover before he moved to AFC Bournemouth and then making more than 250 appearances for Chelsea.

In 1987 Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish bought the defender and Spackman became a central component in the much-admired 1988 team who lost just twice on their way to winning the league championship.

After playing for QPR, Glasgow Rangers and another stint at Chelsea, Spackman moved to Sheffield United as player-coach and assistant to Howard Kendall in 1996.

He took over full time in 1988, however, players were sold by the board without his knowledge leading him to resign.

Another unsuccessful spell as manager, this time at Barnsley, ended with Spackman moving away from management and into television work.

He said: "I have not taken this job to prove myself as a manager as I think I have done that already.

"Unfortunately I had a lot of interference at board level in previous jobs and this is one of the reasons why I have taken the job here.

"The last thing a manager wants is players sold from under him when things are going well and I've got assurances this won't be the case here.

"It will be more a case of bring in good players rather than sell them and work as a team with the board."

He added: "If players are sold without my consultation, as happened at Barnsley and Sheffield United, I would not be here long."

After four years away from the game Spackman is aware some people are raising an eyebrow at his acceptance of the Millwall post.

He said: "I have had text messages saying: You must be mad'.

"But what happens to ex-players and ex-managers is they've got a bug and sometimes you get up in the morning and you've got something to give to the game again."

Spackman also pointed to a conclusion in a case over his son who has cerebal palsy after hospital neglect.

Having won financial security for 12-year-old Frazer for the rest of his life, Spackman felt able to devote time back to the sport he loves.

He said: "It was a huge weight off for me and my family. It has been a tough four years and it put football in perspective."

But now he is back and relishing his new position: "I have played here and at the old Den many times so I know what the support is like.

"This is a great chance for me.

"I know there is a lot of hard work ahead but I think I am up to the task although every football manager will tell you, you need a little bit of luck along the way so hopefully we'll get some.

"There are good players here who need to be nurtured in the right way and we need some players to complete the squad and give Millwall the best chance of getting promotion this season."

He added: "Obviously the downward decline needs to stop somewhere and I hope it stops with me."