Bart Bialkowski: Neil Harris’ Millwall departure feels similar to when Mick McCarthy left Ipswich

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Bartosz Bialkowski reckons there are similarities between Neil Harris’ exit from Millwall and the manner in which Mick McCarthy left Ipswich Town.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper is on a season-long loan from the Tractor Boys.

McCarthy, whose first managerial job was Millwall, had six years as Ipswich boss but stepped down in April 2018. They were relegated after finishing bottom of the Championship the following season.

“It was a similar situation to Mick McCarthy at Ipswich,” said Bialkowski. “The fans there were unhappy with the way we played. I remember we beat Barnsley at home 1-0 and after that game he [McCarthy] said he was going to resign.

“They are very similar in the way they play, even how they managed the teams and players. I loved Mick and for the two months I have been here I absolutely loved working with Neil.

“It was a massive surprise for all of us. We didn’t expect it. It is such a shame. I am disappointed because he was the guy who brought me in and I respect him for that.

“He didn’t deserve the abuse he got because he is a great manager and, more importantly, he is a fantastic guy.

“It was his decision and we need to respect that.”

The first job of the new manager will be to consolidate Millwall’s position in the Championship.

“It’s up to these guys upstairs who they appoint,” said Bialkowski. “Hopefully it is going to be different [to what happened at Ipswich].

“We were a tough team to beat [under Harris] – that’s the main thing in this league. We had our strengths and we knew our limitations.

“We knew how to play against other teams. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t.”

Bialkowski admits his Twitter account is largely just used as a search tool. And while that might include the latest Millwall news and rumours, it certainly isn’t for seeking out reviews of his own performances between the posts.

“I’ve read the opinions of other people about me in the past and it just doesn’t help,” he said. “Because you know yourself if you have played good or bad.

“You don’t need to listen to other people because you’re not going to make them all happy. There will be half saying you played well and the rest saying you’ve been s***.

“You just don’t need that. I stopped reading about those things five or six years ago and I felt happier.

“You’ve always looked at the things you could’ve done better after a game, or even after training. You know, as an experienced player, what you should have done or you did well.”

Bialkowski has kept one clean sheet but is fifth in the Championship charts for saves – averaging three per match.

“I’ve done well overall,” he said. “Obviously I’ve made a mistake against QPR, but that happens.

“I just need to keep training well, keep training hard, because the way you train during the week is the way you’re going to play on a Saturday.

“Mistakes are going to happen. To score a goal in football, someone needs to make a mistake.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with LT [Lee Turner, goalkeeping coach] and I need to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Caretaker manager Adam Barrett is one of the contenders to replace Harris – and his first game in charge saw the Lions beat Leeds United 2-1.

Bialkowski replies “absolutely” when asked if the former Southend United defender, who had been first-team coach, would have the support of the players if he was handed the job on a full-time basis.

“No matter who is in the job we are going to give our best because we are also playing for ourselves – for our families and future,” said the Poland shotstopper.

“The commitment and desire to win the Leeds game was fantastic. No matter who gets the job we’ll keep doing that.”

PICTURE BY BRIAN TONKS