Millwall boss ‘sad’ to see Neil Warnock leave Boro – and gives his take on Chris Wilder’s appointment

Gary Rowett has given his verdict on Chris Wilder’s appointment as Middlesbrough boss – and admits he was “sorry” to see Neil Warnock lose his job.

Millwall head to Teesside this weekend and it will be Wilder’s first match in charge after his appointment on November 7.

Warnock had celebrated a record 1,602 as a manager but left Boro by mutual consent.

“I really like Neil,” Rowett told the South London Press. “You’re always sad to see someone leave any club, but particularly someone who has done so well.

“Neil Warnock is the type of person who is always there to offer a bit of advice. Sometimes you want it and sometimes you don’t – but he’ll offer it anyway.

“Neil is a good guy. But obviously they made their decision and it is an opportunity for someone else, like Chris, to come in. Chris is another vastly-experienced manager. I’ve managed against Chris so many times, because his Oxford team were in League Two at the same time as my Burton team. I’ve had many encounters against him. He is another shrewd operator.

“He did brilliantly to keep Sheffield United up [in the Premier League], it was a really under-rated achievement.

“Sometimes you don’t want a change just before you play them at home because you know they are going to be up for it, their fans are going to be up for it, sensing an opportunity to kickstart their promotion push.

“But, it’s like any other challenge. We’ve got to go there and do what we do – be very good at what we do in order to get a result.”