A GILLINGHAM podcaster admits he was taken by surprise by Neil Harris’ sacking last week.
The Millwall legend was given his marching orders just 11 games into the season despite the fact the Kent-based club sat eighth in the table and just four points off the league leaders Notts County at the time.
Harris had been in charge for 20 months and almost pulled off a miraculous escape from League One relegation with the Gills after taking over in January 2022.
Caretaker boss Keith Millen won his first match in charge against the MK Dons on Saturday with ex-Millwall defender Scott Malone among the scorers in a 2-1 win.
James Hawkins, co-host of the Me7 podcast alongside friend Owen Stanley, is still trying to get his head around the “bold” decision.
He told NewsAtDen: “I just never really saw it coming. I still now think it’s too early. We were eighth in the league, only a point off third, I felt that he definitely should have been given more time, 100%.
“I think there were a minority of fans who never really took to Neil Harris, regardless of the results, but I think everyone would unanimously agree that he definitely deserved more time. Whether that more time would then lead to better things, I don’t know, but I think 11 games, when you’re only a point off automatic promotion, is bold, is risky, because it can go either way. It can go brilliantly for us or it can go horribly wrong, and I’m praying to God it’s not the latter.”
Harris’ style of football, which will be familiar to Millwall fans who attended The Den during Harris’ four year reign, was a issue cited on social media by some Gillingham supporters.
Hawkins said: “I think that’s probably the main reason why Neil Harris has been sacked. The club stated they wanted to go in a ‘different direction’ and I would assume that different direction is more of an attractive style of play. It’s no secret that Neil Harris’ football was sometimes not pretty on the eye and I think, to be honest with you, that’s probably what’s lost him his job.“The football club put a hell of a lot of money into the playing squad in January when [new owner] Brad Galinson come in. They also put a lot of money into the squad in the summer, not necessarily buying players but on wages, and there was an automatic pressure.
“I think the football club feel that with the talent that was at Neil Harris’ disposal, they probably thought that not enough goals were happening, there was not enough attacking play and I think the football club felt we were scraping through games rather than beating teams comfortably and I think that’s why he end ended up getting sacked to be honest.”
Whatever issues were on the pitch, Hawkins paid tribute to “top guy” Harris who created memories during his stay at Priestfield, not least his ability to pull off Carabao Cup upsets.
Hawkins said: “We beat Brentford on penalties in the Carabao Cup and that was when we were bottom of the football league and terrible.
“We beat Southampton this season, 3-1 at Priesfield, who have obviously just been relegated but they’re still a Premier League side in my eyes.
“He very nearly kept us up on the last day of the season after being 10 points adrift in League One after coming in on deadline day and we only went down on goal difference.
“But I think the biggest thing for me is that Neil Harris was a top bloke. He’s such a nice guy. He gave us his time on the podcast, we did an interview with Neil. He was just a top, top man and I think it’s no surprise that the players were absolutely devastated when he was given the boot on Thursday, they were gutted. So yeah I would just like to wish Neil all the best for whatever he does next.
“I know obviously Millwall fans hold him in high regard and quite rightly. He’s one of my favourite ever Gillingham managers and I’ve been a Gill fan for 22 years now.”
As for who will replace him, a few candidates well-known to EFL fans and some more unfamiliar names have been linked to the role.
Hawkins said: “I would like to see the football club go down a route of young, ambitious and someone who plays attractive football. We’re heavily linked with Andrew Crofts at the moment who’s Brighton’s first-team coach and has played for Gillingham, so he would fit that mould.
“Some people have said the Cowley brothers. Karl Robinson would probably be my preferred option. He’s led Oxford United to two play-off finals, he’s promoted MK Dons out of League Two into League One and plays attractive football. So if anyone, it will be Karl Robinson at the top of my list.”
