The Lions fell just short on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign, losing 3-1 to Burnley at Turf Moor when a win would have clinched sixth.

That was a tall order, given Burnley had lost one of their previous 58 home Championship matches and three in 95 since March 2013.

It was a different kind of final day compared to 2023, when Gary Rowett’s side were fifth in the table as they led Blackburn Rovers 3-1 at The Den at half-time, only to collapse after the break and lose 4-3 to finish eighth.

Cooper still felt the disappointment even though there was little expectation outside the club that they could pull it off against the Clarets.

“Of course you dwell on it for a couple of days,” Cooper told NewsAtDen. “You think of the what ifs and what could have happened. But you move on quickly, there’s another season coming and it’s going to be a challenging one.

“You have to move forward, you can’t dwell on the past. We’ve had a nice break, a nice rest with the family and we look forward to coming back and seeing everybody.”

Millwall have broken their transfer record three times in the last year, on Mihailo Ivanovic, Camiel Neghli and Josh Coburn.

It’s put to Cooper that this is perhaps as ambitious as the club have been in his time as he approaches his ninth full season in SE16.

“Yeah, but that comes from the sales of Zian Flemming and Romain Esse,” Cooper said. “For us to lose two very good players, we’ve obviously built back with a lot of signings that have improved the team, I believe, and you have to give credit to the chairman and the board.

“Hopefully we can keep pushing and add a few more this summer.”

“It should be an exciting season.”

Cooper believes that the key to that will be the fitness and form of potential strike partnership Ivanovic and Coburn.

Ivanovic scored two winning goals – and another two in a 3-1 victory over Norwich City – and Coburn three winning goals after the turn of the year last season.

“They’re a great partnership,” Cooper said. “They can be very difficult for teams. Mika’s finishing is at a top, top level. And Josh’s all-round play gives us an outlet and a target for us to use.

“I’m sure they can produce a good season if we can keep them together for the whole season.”

Millwall supporters have got a glimpse of the next generation of academy talent coming through as a number of them travelled to Spain for the pre-season training camp and will get further opportunities in friendlies ahead of the start of the Championship season against the Canaries at Carrow Road on August 9.

Cooper said: “We’ve had a few injuries and it’s given an opportunity to some of the young boys and they’ve fitted in the group seamlessly. It’s been a joy to have them around and they get to see what it’s like at this level, being involved with a Championship first team, it’s great experience for them.

“They’ve impressed so far so long may it continue.”