Neil Harris relaxed over length of Millwall contract – with focus on the immediate challenge

Neil Harris has described the length of his Millwall contract as “irrelevant”.

The 46-year-old returned to the Lions as head coach on Wednesday.

Harris’ 18-month deal mirrors the amount of time he had remaining on his Cambridge United terms. He joined the League One club in December, two months after leaving Gillingham.

The Lions legend, who led the South London club to the Championship when he won the League One play-offs in 2017, succeeds Joe Edwards, dismissed this week.

“It was a joint decision between me and the football club,” said Harris, when asked about his Millwall contract.

“Look, I took over (the first time around) nine years ago next month. I’ve done this quite a long time – approaching 500 games. I’ve learned a lot over that period of time.

“I want to enjoy it. I don’t want to be tied in for a long time. We can stop contracts, we can extend contracts and it just seems a sensible period of time.

“The club didn’t just want me in for three months and I didn’t want to come for just three months. I wanted to look past the summer. I just want to see where we’re at next year. We all do. The football club needs support and stability today and I can provide and offer that.

“When we get to the summer transfer window, let’s see where we are at and see where we are again next Christmas time – discussions will be had after that.

“At this moment the length of contract is a little bit irrelevant to me because all I’m focusing on is Saturday.”

Harris has never hidden his affection or connection to Millwall. He made his name playing for the Lions and is their all-time record goalscorer.

Asked if he wanted to stay beyond the 18-months, Harris said: “I don’t know – football changes so fast, doesn’t it? I love working here. I did 12 years as a player, 18 months as a coach and four-and-half-years as a manager and out of those 52 months – 50 of them were absolutely brilliant. Priceless. The last month or so I was tired, fatigued and needed a change. The club needed a change. No long-term thought process.

“It is purely me here, in the moment, helping the football club, enjoying myself and working in an environment and culture with people I really like working with and a football ground that I adore – it has been so good to me over the years.”

Harris chose to resign after a 1-1 draw at Luton Town in October 2019.

Asked what needed to be different this time to avoid that, Harris responded: “That was four-and-a-half years into my tenure. That was just natural cause there. I was in my first job and four-and-a-half years in your first job – that is one hell of a going. I just needed something different and I felt the football club needed something different – that was my opinion and not necessarily the football club’s opinion at the time.

“It was a strong decision – to walk away from a contract. I thought it was in the best interests.

“The club thought it was in the best interests for me to come back now. I’m in a good place. I feel like I’m ready to attack the challenge again of being here. I’ve been to a couple of games and watched a couple of games – it seems that connection needs to be had again between the terrace and the pitch. I always managed to do that as a player and as a leader, in the dressing room, and I managed to do it as a manager.

“It is a challenge to do it and I’m ready for that.”