Millwall chairman John Berylson: Neil Harris will have admirers – but I hope he stays at The Den

By Richard Cawley

richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Millwall chairman John Berylson reckons it is a question of when – not if – clubs make approaches for manager Neil Harris.

The 40-year-old has underlined his reputation as one of the up-and-coming bosses in the country during his three years in charge of the Lions.

Berylson handed the Den managerial reins to Harris, just 37 at the time, and has been rewarded by a League One promotion and then comfortably clinching Championship safety – with even an outside shot at the play-offs this season.

Berylson – speaking exclusively to the South London Press – is expecting interest in Harris, who notched up three years in charge last weekend.

Berylson said: “He will have to make a decision at some point. I hope he will want to stay. All you can do is make sure he is paid properly and fairly. He knows that good managers here are safe from any momentary fits of madness. I am not known for moments of insanity. I’m not rash.

“If Neil leaves it is because he chooses to leave. I expect he will always be successful. But Neil is the type we will try and keep.

“We have never had any conversations about money. Steve [Kavanagh] and I have a conversation before we talk to Neil – what should we be paying him? What is he worth? Up to now we must have done the right things. Kenny Jackett was with me for nearly six years, obviously I did the right thing then.

“I do believe there were some people I overpaid and I couldn’t wait to see the back of them.

“I do expect people to come after him. But people came after Eddie Howe and he has stayed at Bournemouth, hasn’t he? He knew some clubs were looking to talk to him and he didn’t do it.

“There is a new flavour in town – the likes of Eddie Howe and Neil Harris. Young, very intelligent players who have a style and know how to play games. I’m sure they are desirable. But with some Premier League teams if you are not a foreigner it’s not going to happen.

“I don’t expect Liverpool or Chelsea to come calling – it doesn’t seem the flavour of the month, does it? Going English?

“I’ve said many times, Millwall is not a jail. If you want to leave, I’m not going to stop you. You want people to be here because they want to be – our players, managers and coaches.

“Given the history, until three or four years ago nobody wanted to play here. Now everybody wants to play here. It is a good dressing room, we take care of people and always try to do the right thing.

“I don’t think Neil is capable of being untrustworthy. I don’t think it is in him. I doubt he has ever stabbed anybody in the back in his whole life.

“I have just given him the tools to build his house and he is building it. Of course people will be after him, if they aren’t already. But everybody wants to see him here and no-one is looking to push him out of the door.

“If you look in the Championship then you are not competing against other owners – you are competing against countries – mindless amounts of money which are completely wasted.”