Wednesday 29 April 2015 12:31, UK
Former Millwall striker Tony Cascarino believes interim manager Neil Harris should be given the role on a permanent basis when the Londoners return to League One next season.
Millwall’s destiny was sealed on Tuesday evening when Rotherham beat Reading 2-1 to secure their own Championship status for 2015/16.
Cascarino, who made more than a century of appearances for Millwall between 1987 and 1990, says the club appeared to be doomed long before Harris replaced Ian Holloway as manager in mid-March.
The 52-year-old, appearing on the Morning View at Sky Sports New HQ on Wednesday, said of his former club: “Neil should be given a chance to go into League One.
“The damage was really done long before he got the job. He did steady the ship, got a decent points return and had a real go at staying up.
“But they were already doomed when Neil got the job and I think stability is the biggest thing for Millwall.”
Too many players came in, they had a huge squad, but couldn’t find the right formation.
Asked why they performed so poorly for much of the season, Cascarino added: “There was way too much change this year.
“Too many players came in, they had a huge squad, but couldn’t find the right formation.
“Lose one week and they’d be three changes. Ian struggled to find the right formation and how to set the team up.
“Lots of goals conceded too. I think they have to find a group of 20 players they can rely on.
“People they can really trust at League One level. It’s a different level to the Championship and they need to find a group to get up.
“And I do hope Neil gets given the job. He’s done enough in a very short period of time.”
Along with Millwall, the Millers’ victory over the Royals also condemned Wigan to League One, just 23 months after the Latics lifted the FA Cup as a Premier League club.
Phil Thompson, also appearing on the Morning View, says he fears for the Greater Manchester outfit now they are in the third tier of English football.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “I’m worried for them. It’s a downward spiral.
“They don’t get big crowds or have a big sponsorship pot. Dave Whelan (owner) has pumped mega amounts of money into the club to live the dream and now he’s left (the day to day running of Wigan.)
“It’s a great club and they gave the Premier League a big boost when they first came in.
“But when they dropped out, all the players on the big money started to drift away and I fear for them and just wonder where it’s going to go and whether they’ll drop through the League. And Wigan will be a big scalp in League One.”
And Cascarino says of Wigan: “It’s all about recruitment. It’s where you live or die – you’re bread and butter.
“Wigan’s success was based on bringing in players like Shaun Maloney, Callum McManaman and Grant Holt. They had a good quality of player.
“They’re now letting players go and the ones coming in are not as good. Recruitment is everything at every club whether it’s the Conference, League One, Premier League.”
