Neil Harris explains his shock Millwall decision ahead of Middlesbrough farewell

NEIL Harris says the "time is right" for him to leave Millwall as he prepares for his final game in charge at Middlesbrough this weekend.

Harris admitted it's been a challenging few days at the club since his shock exit was announced earlier this week.

He took charge of his final home game last night, with the Lions going down 1-0 to Sheffield United, and will be in the dugout at the Riverside on Saturday before moving on.

Harris has done a remarkable job at the Den since returning to the club in February but says "it's the right time for the football club to go in a different direction".

He'd love to go out on a high with a positive result at the Riverside but has warned his Millwall players they're facing a "very, very good" Middlesbrough side.

“Obviously I’m disappointed in the outcome as Millwall manager, in my final game at home," Harris told London News Online after the Sheffield United defeat.

"But just in general it has been a tough 48 hours for everybody – quite emotional for the last 24 hours, not just for me and my family but the players, when I broke the news to them, and the staff.

“Just the way they have conducted themselves is just a privilege for me to be their manager. They are brilliant lads. The difference in the game was just that little bit of quality we lack, at times, but no lack of effort, desire and game understanding of getting into certain areas.

“It has been a privilege and a pleasure – I’m so proud to have represented this club as a player and as a leader in the dressing room. I know it is the right time for change, for all of us, and the club have been unbelievably supportive with that viewpoint.

“It is the right time for me but also the right time for the football club to go in a different direction and bring in a manager that maybe has different ideas and works in a different way to me. That can build relationships in the club – really important."

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When Harris returned to Millwall earlier this year the Lions were deep in relegation trouble, but he led them to safety before enjoying a superb start to the current campaign.

He said: “When I took the job in February it was a real debate whether I was taking the job. I ultimately took the job because I promised the late John Berylson that I’d come back in the hour of need. I really wanted to work with Jimmy, his son, and it’s been an absolute privilege to have served both of them and had a great relationship with both.

“Jimmy is a good man and really supportive of me. But it was only going to be until the end of the season – I was very clear with everyone about that. Sometimes when you are heading to the January transfer window you just have to give someone new an opportunity towards that window. The timing became clear for me in the last week or two, that is was the right time for both parties.

“It is nice (for me to get a proper goodbye with the fans). We didn’t agree for the me to do the next two games for that purpose. There was no thought about what was nice for me or even the fanbase, no disrespect to them. It’s what is right for the players.

“I didn’t feel that it was right to leave caretakers in charge for Sheffield United at home, the best team in the league, and Middlesbrough away, who are also very, very good.

“I take those two really tough fixtures and leave the pathway for someone to come in, it’s not an easy game against Blackburn at home.

“But then it leaves the football club with five games, leading up to and including Sheffield Wednesday, for someone to assess the squad on a daily basis and within games leading up to the transfer window."

Ex-Boro boss Chris Wilder hailed Harris after his Blades side won at the Den.

He said: “He’s a boy that loves his football club, like I do personally as well. I’m not going to go into the details of what happened but he’s just a really good guy as well as a football guy.

“He wants to win. There’s been plenty of battles that we’ve had on the touchline but I know he will be the first to say ‘come and have a beer’ afterwards. I don’t think that’s old school, I think that’s right. We all want to win, we are all after three points."