Axe finally falls on Holloway as Millwall try to save their status
STRUGGLING Millwall sacked manager Ian Holloway yesterday, with the 51-year-old having spent little more than a year in the job.
Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Norwich left the Londoners second-bottom in the Championship table, eight points from safety.
Neil Harris has agreed to take charge of the first team until the end of the season as the club begins its search for a permanent replacement.
Millwall chairman John Berylson said: “This was a hard decision to take because we very much hoped that Ollie would prove to be the man to take us forward and on to the next level.
“I would like to thank him for his efforts, and in particular for keeping us in the Championship last May. This season, though, has proved to be an extremely challenging one and we now find ourselves facing another uphill battle to avoid relegation.
“Ian Holloway remains a fine manager and it was his impressive track record which led us to appoint him some 14 months ago. However, our view is that the decision to part company at this stage is in the best interests of the football club going forward.
“Neil Harris has agreed to take over managerial duties for the remainder of the season and I am confident that Millwall fans will give him every support over the next couple of months as we strive to turn our current run of form around.”
Holloway took charge of his seventh club when appointed as Steve Lomas’ permanent successor in January 2014 and steered Millwall to safety as they went undefeated in their last eight Championship matches.
That run lifted the club four points above the relegation zone, but the Lions have struggled this season and defeat to Norwich at the weekend was their fourth in a row.
Millwall have won only three league games at home this season.