ALAN Miller was devastated to learn that his career in professional football was being brought to a premature end by injury just two short months ago.
It's every footballer's ultimate nightmare but Miller found himself facing such a scenario when he was finally forced to admit defeat in his battle against a persistent back problem.
After 17 years in the game, Saturday afternoons were no longer going to be the same again for the likeable goalkeeper.
As the dreaded news seeped in, he found himself at a crossroads in life. He could either wallow in a sea of self pity, or set about the task of reinventing himself.
Thankfully, Miller has always been one of life's survivors and it didn't take him long at all to pick himself up and dust himself down again -- not long at all, in fact.
These days, the former Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion stopper can be found living the life of Riley in Palma, the sunkist capital of Majorca, where he recently embarked on a new business venture.
It's the playboy capital of the Balearics and if fun in the sun is what rings your bell then 'Maxi' Miller is the man to see.
Whether it's luxury accommodation or the services of a fully skippered private yacht you require, Tailormade, Miller's new company, are the people to contact.
"This year is all about building the foundations and getting the whole thing off the ground," said Miller, speaking from his new base on the island.
"We are just trying to get everything in place then we can have a real go at it next year, but it's an exciting project and it's completely different to anything I've ever done before."
Miller first came up with the idea for the new business when he bought a share in a yacht some time ago.
He then came to the conclusion that serious money could be made out of chartering boats for a living and set about making plans for his retirement.
As the seed began to germinate, so too did the scale of the project, so much so that you can now charter boats, rent accommodation, hire a luxury limo, or organise the perfect party as part of your 'tailormade' holiday package.
Once the foundations were put in place, all that was needed then was the assistance of some old friends to help get the whole thing off the ground, and former Blackburn team-mates Craig Short, David Dunn, David Thompson, Garry Flitcroft, Stig Bjornebye and Alan Kelly duly obliged by bringing a touch of celebrity to the official launch party.
"Getting the Blackburn players over to help us launch it was a real help because Sky TV came over and did a piece on it and that kind of publicity can only help to get our name more well known," said Miller.
"But it was also really good to see the lads again. A few of them came over with their wives and girlfriends and we made a weekend of it, although I felt like a pretend sailor compared to Shorty because he's into his proper sailing boats."
That was earlier this month and the venture is now up and running in time for the summer.
So what does a typical day in the new life of Alan Miller entail?
"I come to the office about nine-ish and go through all the stuff with the secretary in terms of what's come in and what needs booking out," said Miller.
"Then I might have a few meetings with various different people on the island at golf clubs and country clubs and those sort of places, with a view to them chartering the boats or renting property.
"We then shut the office between two and four for a couple of hours and that's when I tend to sit around the pool and chill out for a bit. It's terrific.
"After that, it's back to work until about six, so it's not a regular nine to five job. It's just nice and relaxed and I'm really enjoying it."
As yet, Miller has been so busy that he hasn't had time to think about the life he left behind.
He does admit, however, that he will start to miss his football fix once Rovers return for pre-season training in three weeks' time.
"To be honest, I haven't had much time to keep up with football because I've been so busy with things over here.
"I watched an England game the other week but that's been about it.
"It will start to hit home a bit when the lads return for pre-season training. After doing that myself for 17 years it's going to be strange not being there.
"But I'm not going to start wishing I was still with them. I prefer to look on the positives.
"It was a massive blow to have to finish early but I can look back on my career with a lot of fond memories and this is a new chapter in my life now and I plan to enjoy it."
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