Millwall confirm James Berylson will succeed his father John as chairman following his tragic death

James Berylson has vowed to ‘strive to fulfill the legacy’ of his late father John after Millwall confirmed he would succeed his late father as the club’s chairman.

John Berylson tragically died earlier this month following a motor vehicle accident in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The 70-year-old’s funeral was held in Boston on Monday.

Millwall’s ownership has remain unchanged since the loss of the beloved figure who club officials described as a ‘truly great man’, but on Friday James, 42, announced that he had succeeded his father as chairman.

‘Dad had a deep and infectious love for Millwall,’ he wrote in an open letter to supporters.

‘He cared passionately about the players, staff, management and, most importantly, our supporters. It is a love that spread throughout the Berylson family and Millwall has become a huge part of our lives for so long now.

New Millwall chairman James Berylson has vowed to ‘fulfill the legacy’ of his late father John

John Berylson tragically died earlier this month following a motor vehicle accident in the USA

The Boston-born businessman, 70, was the victim of a ‘single car rollover’ in Falmouth, Massachusetts at around 8am on July 4 and had to be cut from the wreckage using a mechanical device known as the ‘jaws of life’ 

‘I have witnessed incredible moments of joy, drama and success at The Den alongside my Dad and these memories will last a lifetime. From this day forward, though, it is about creating new ones.

‘John Berylson, our Chairman, had dreams for this club. He had a vision and a plan, and I am fiercely determined and passionate about continuing his work and building on this foundation.

‘It is with sincere and immeasurable pride that I take on the Chairmanship of this great football club. It is what my Dad wanted, and I am so thankful for his mentorship since I joined the Board of Directors in 2010 and blessed by his trust and faith in me. I am also grateful to my Millwall colleagues for their support in recent days but also, more broadly, the advice and guidance they have provided me over the years.

‘This will mark the start of a new era, one in which we will strive to fulfill Dad’s legacy.’

John Berylson was the victim of a ‘single car rollover’ in Falmouth, Massachusetts at around 8am on July 4 and had to be cut from the wreckage using a mechanical device known as the ‘jaws of life’. He was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

It is believed Mr Berylson was driving a 2019 Range Rover when he lost control as he took a corner. The 4×4 then veered off the road, rolled down a steep bank and hit a tree. Photographs taken at the scene by local police and posted on their Facebook page showed the car on its side.

Like his father, James is expected to oversee the sunning of the club from the US while keeping in regular contact with chief executive Steve Kavanagh and manager Gary Rowett.

The elder Berylson was regarded as one of the best chairmen in English football and saw the Lions reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 2013, before making the quarter-finals in 2017 and 2019.

The club’s most recent promotion to the Championship came in 2017 and they have stayed there since.

Last season Millwall finished in eighth place in the Championship, narrowly missing out on a play-off place on the final day of the season.

Millwall chairman John Berylson holds the League One play-off trophy after his team beat Bradford City at Wembley Stadium in May 2017 to secure promotion to the Championship