It was always going to be a tough ask for ex-West Ham man Steve Lomas in his first football league managerial job, especially at a massive rival such as Millwall. Therefore with little surprise, having won just 5 of his 22 league matches in charge, he was sacked leaving the south London club dangerously poised above the relegation places. With the Millwall board eager to make a swift appointment, who could replace the Northern Irishman?
Neil Harris
Crowd favourite and Millwall legend, Harris has been installed as caretaker boss to look after affairs whilst the south Bermondsey club look for a more permanent manager. Despite ruling himself out of the position, the bookies have made him the clear favourite. Having only just retired as a professional footballer, his experience within the coaching profession is pretty much non-existent; however his ties with Millwall may give him the time needed in today’s harsh football manager world. A solution may be to bring in an experienced number two, but who would this man be?
Odds: Evens
Neil Warnock
Another Neil, but this Neil is fairly well known for his managerial expertises within the football league. Having now been managing for a staggering 33 years, with a huge amount of success, the 65 year old may be looking for one more challenge before taking down his tactics board and heading for retirement. He has said he is willing to take the job on a short-term basis till the end of the season, but are the Millwall board looking for a longer-term appointment? Warnock could provide the perfect experience to Neil Harris as they look to groom their own managerial material within the club.
Odds: 4/1
Dennis Wise
FA Cup runners up when player-manager of the club between 2003 and 2005, they were only the second team from outside the top flight to play in the Cup final since 1982. Despite this, having not managed since 2008, when he left Millwall rivals, Leeds United, to become Executive Director of Newcastle United, his image within football was severely tarnished during an ill fated spell on Tyneside. Rumoured to have applied for the position as manager during the summer, Millwall fans are said to be hugely split over his time at the club and with little recent managerial experience, it may not be a wise decision to go for London born cheeky chappy.
Odds: 10/1
Ian Holloway
Now being rumoured with every club under the sun, Holloway has once again had his name connected to the new job within football. Despite having no previous allegiances with the club, his character and previous achievements with both Crystal Palace and Blackpool, gaining promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, may interest the Millwall board. Still relatively young in the managerial game, having turned just 50 in March of this year, his enthusiasm and eccentricity often covers up the relegations he had at both QPR and Leicester which saw both teams drop down to the third tier of league football. If employed, history would say that the Lions could soon be facing the likes of Stevenage and Crawley in League One next season.
Odds: 12/1
Wildcard: Steve Claridge
A man who is often unfairly ridiculed for his punditry on the infamous Football League Show, Steve Claridge, the world renowned journeyman of football, has not been involved in the coaching side of football for many years. An ill-fated 36 days in charge of the south London club during the summer of 2005, Claridge never got the chance to manage the club in a competitive match having been replaced by Colin Lee before the season kicked off. Narrowly missing out on promotion when managing Weymouth during the 2003-2004 season, his experience may not be substantial but his knowledge of the game is second to none. The man who was quoted as saying he was ‘too technical at times’ may not be the perfect candidate for a relegation battle, but as an adopted child who has played through the leagues to play in the Premier League and win the League Cup with Leicester, he would sure be up for the fight.
Odds: 33/1
