Millwall manager Neil Harris wants a smaller first-team squad next season, and has prioritised quality over quantity this summer. 

The Lions used 40 different players last term as they were relegated to League One, and manager Harris, who succeeded Ian Holloway last month, wants to trim the squad and have two players competing for each position.

Millwall have released 18 players so far this summer, and Harris has targeted no more than six signings to earn the club an immediate return to the Championship.

Speaking to News at Den, the club's chief executive Andy Ambler said: “Neil wants to operate with a smaller squad than last year. The core number he’s looking at is 22 or 23 players.

“I think if you look at all the most successful clubs across different leagues they use the least number of players.

“Neil wants a balance between experience and youth. ‘Young and hungry’ is a catchphrase we seem to be using going forward.

“We saw with the way the squad shaped up towards the end of last season in a difficult division an indication of the way we’re going.

“It was really pleasing to see, for instance, Jamie Philpot, even though he got injured, come on and score with his first touch in professional football.

“I think we need a younger pool and Neil is committed to building a younger squad which means as a club we’ve got to be patient.

“I’d rather when we go back to the Championship we go back with a young, hungry group.

“There’s work to be done. There are probably four or five needed to get up to that number (that Harris wants).”

Millwall fans... What do you make of this news? Will just over 20 players be enough to get your club back into the Championship? Let us know what you think in the comments!