MILLWALL player-boss Dennis Wise has urged chairman Theo Paphitis to invest the club's FA Cup final proceeds into the squad if he wants a chance of reaching the Premiership.

Wise estimated the First Division club had made £4m out of their run to the final, with a place also assured in the UEFA Cup next season.

But the 37-year-old former Dell apprentice believes the FA Cup cost Millwall a place in the play-offs, with some younger players mentally having switched off in the final eight games.

So he has therefore told Paphitis if he wants to realise his dream of reaching the Premiership, he must speculate to accumulate - by signing up to five new players.

"We've made about £4m from the FA Cup. I'd like to see some of that, although I don't know how much the club earns each season,'' declared Wise, who was appointed just seven months ago.

"Ray Wilkins and I have only got one season left in charge, so we want to have a go and bring in some players that we want. Everyone knows we have to improve to get where we want to be.

"It's easy to say 'get us up into the Premiership' but unless you're able to get some players in, it doesn't happen like that.

"You can't just take over other people's players and get the team up.

"You want to play a certain way with some of your own players.

"It's fantastic to get to the FA Cup final and into Europe.

"Then again, if we hadn't been in the FA Cup final, but had still won just once in our last eight league games, we might have been sacked. It can go either way.

"That's why we realise that we do need players.''

Wise, who has three keepers out of contract, is hoping Millwall's achievement in reaching the UEFA Cup will help attract new players.

"That's something that could help get those players. We've already marked down who we want to get. We'll discuss that with Theo now,'' he said.