Next Millwall manager: Ex-Sunderland & Barnsley man 'used to winning' is 'set' for Den vacancy

Millwall have reportedly found their man as they bid to replace Neil Harris. The departure of Harris took the Lions by surprise, with the fan favourite walking away despite an impressive start to the season.

In the meantime, Millwall have stopped the rot, picking up much-needed win over the weekend following a run of defeats and a slide down the table. David Livermore has been leading the team since Harris’ departure, and speaking over the weekend, Livermore said that he expects to be in charge for the Boxing Day clash with Norwich City.

“I think it is a day-by-day thing,” Livermore said. “If there was a new manager in Monday morning, no issue. Let’s crack on. The conversation I had, unless anything’s changed, I haven’t spoke to the chairman since, but it does look like I’ll be in charge for Thursday against Norwich. But again that could change, I don’t know. I’m quite relaxed about it. I’ve been told by the chairman that I will be here beyond this season. My contract runs out at the end of the season, so we’ve had that chat. That will be my next task but I’ve been told by him I’ll be here beyond this season.

“So again, when the new guy comes in, I’m sure he’ll want to bring at least someone with him. I’m really comfortable with that. I think I’m average to good at a number of things, so I think I’m quite flexible. I think I can mould into whatever the next head coach wants me to do.”

But the search for a new manager remains ongoing, and according to Alan Nixon, Millwall have found their man in former Sunderland, Barnsley and Norwich City boss Alex Neil. It’s claimed the Lions like Neil’s ‘no-nonsense’ style, and they are said to be closing in on an appointment.

Neil achieves playoff promotions with both Sunderland from League One and Norwich City to the Premier League. With Millwall currently in 10th spot and seven points off the top six, the Lions board will be hoping Neil can do the same at The Den, although success will be defined by staying in the race for the majority of the season. That would represent a big step forward from last season for the club.

Neil a coach ‘used to winning’

While his time at Stoke City didn’t go brilliantly, Neil has had a successful managerial career, and speaking to Coaches’ Voice previously, he spoke about his early days at Norwich. He said: “But Norwich had just dropped out of the Premier League. I can’t think of any other manager who had made such a big move in the previous decade as I did when I moved from Hamilton to Norwich. I just couldn’t say no.

“There were probably some doubts about me. But I didn’t find the prospect of turning things around for Norwich – who were seventh in the Championship at the time – at all daunting. I felt quite relaxed about the challenge. There was no apprehension at all. I felt very, very used to winning I got everyone pulling in the same direction, and we started winning games.”

Speaking about the campaign that saw Norwich relegated from the top flight, he added: “I was incredibly proud of the team I took into the Premier League, though. As a manager, you want to be able to watch your team in black and white and be able to recognise them from their style of play. I can safely say my team did that for me, particularly in the first 12 to 15 games of the season.

“We finished on 34 points, which has kept plenty of teams up before – so we weren’t far off achieving our goal of survival. I was managing in the Premier League at 34 years old, and a lack of experience hurt me in the end. I know now I should have looked further into the future when we got promoted, and made some plans for a couple of years down the line. We should have strengthened more then. The team could have been more conservative at times. I learned an awful lot in my time at Norwich, and all of those experiences – good and bad – have only made me a better manager today.”