Former Stoke City boss set for coronation at Championship rivals
Alex Neil is set to be unveiled in his first frontline football job since leaving Stoke City as he joins Championship rivals Millwall.
The 43-year-old has been strongly linked with various positions since his Stoke departure 12 months ago, including at Birmingham City and Hull. But he is widely expected to take over at The Den and replace Neil Harris, inheriting a team that currently sits 10th in the table, seven points adrift of the play-off spots and six ahead of Stoke. Steven Schumacher, who replaced Neil at Stoke, had also been linked with the post.
Millwall's next game is ironically against another of Neil's old clubs, Norwich City, on Boxing Day but interim boss David Livermore has been on standby to stay in charge for that game.
READ MORE: Leeds United boss claims Stoke City have nothing to lose in their 'game of the season'
READ MORE: Nathan Lowe transfer truth as Stoke City look elsewhere for youthful goals
“I think it is a day by day thing. If there was a new manager in on Monday morning, no issue. Let’s crack on,” he said, quoted by the South London Press. “I’ve been told by the chairman that I will be here beyond this season. My contract runs out at the end of the season – we’ve had that chat.
“That will be my next task but I’ve been told I will be here beyond this season. When the new guy comes in I imagine he will want to bring at least one person with him. I’m really comfortable with that. I think I’m average to good at a number of things. I’m quite good at moulding whatever the next head coach wants me to do.
“The conversations I do have it looks like, unless anything has changed since the last time I spoke to the chairman, that I will be in charge for Thursday against Norwich. But again, that could change. I don’t know."
Gary Rowett, another former Stoke manager, is also back at work after replacing Des Buckingham at Oxford United.
He will make his debut in a home game against Cardiff on Boxing Day and has already had talks about potential business in January.
“I had discussions with the club, they’re always poignant discussions just to understand what the landscape looks like now and moving forward," he told the Oxford Mail.
“I had good discussions with Ed [Waldron, head of football operations] and what the sort of capabilities are in the transfer window. It’s like anything, it’s about trying to get as much value as we can with players that are brought in, but first and foremost for me, it’s about trying to build a value in the team.
“It’s about trying to make sure the team has an opportunity to show their strengths and qualities. For me, my job first and foremost is quite simply to try and get the best out of the squad. I’m looking forward to trying to help them do that. I think there are some really good players in there and some really talented players in the squad.
"It’s trying to sort that process, but of course as a new head coach coming into the building, I’m always keen to know if there is an opportunity to strengthen and support the existing group.”
