Ian Holloway has been dismissed as Millwall manager following a poor run of results that has left the club mired in the Championship relegation zone. He will replaced for the remainder of the season by the coach and former Millwall player Neil Harris.
The Millwall chairman John Berylson said in a statement on the club’s website on Tuesday: “This was a hard decision to take because we very much hoped that Ollie would prove to be the man to take us forward and on to the next level. I would like to thank him for his efforts, and in particular for keeping us in the Championship last May. This season, though, has proved to be an extremely challenging one and we now find ourselves facing another uphill battle to avoid relegation.”
Berylson had earlier stood by the 51-year-old Holloway, who was appointed early last year, despite the club’s predicament, saying last week: “I don’t believe that a change of manager would lead to different results. The players are working with him so we’ve got to hope that he can pull it off like last year.” But with Millwall’s form showing no signs of improvement, and following Saturday’s 1-4 defeat to Norwich City, at which fans protested against Holloway, the club have changed tack.
“Ian Holloway remains a fine manager,” Berylson added in Tuesday’s statement, “and it was his impressive track record which led us to appoint him some 14 months ago. However, our view is that the decision to part company at this stage is in the best interests of the football club going forward.
“Neil Harris has agreed to take over managerial duties for the remainder of the season and I am confident that Millwall fans will give him every support over the next couple of months as we strive to turn our current run of form around.” Tom Davies
