Millwall boss asked if he was tempted to hand Bart Bialkowski game time on his farewell Den outing

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has explained why he did not give Bart Bialkowski any minutes in his Den farewell on Saturday.

The Lions confirmed on Friday that the 36-year-old goalkeeper, who won the club’s Player of the Year award in successive seasons, will be leaving this summer.

Bialkowski has played 169 matches for Millwall since arriving from Ipswich Town.

Harris, asked about whether he was tempted to hand the club’s former number one some involvement in the 1-0 win over Plymouth, joked: “I thought about putting him on up front! No, no temptation to play him – Matty (Sarkic) deserves to play.

“My thought process with Bart might be to come off the bench at some point but you have to go into football integrity – due care of attention to the league and players.

“And to Bart himself, at 36, to go on in the 90th minute and have to kick three balls might’ve been a little bit difficult.

“All cards are on the table with Bart – we know exactly where he is at. He’s had a fantastic career at this football club and I thank him deeply, from the bottom of my heart. I love Bart Bialkowski.

“I look forward to working with him this week and I look forward to seeing him in the summer. He has always got a place at this football club, to come and watch games – see the staff, to watch training and come in the changing room.

“He is that fondly thought of.”