Harris expecting big turnover of players following Millwall's relegation

The club have a host of big-earning names out of contract and few are expected to survive the inevitable cull now the Lions have dropped out of the Championship.

Former U21s coach Harris has already shown a willingness to give homegrown talent a chance to shine in the first team since replacing Ian Holloway as interim boss in March.

And although keen to progress those youngsters in the long-term, the most immediate priority is to get the ball rolling on who is leaving and coming in over the close season.

Harris told News Shopper: “It is hard to say at the minute how many people we are going to keep or recruit.

“There is definitely going to be a big turnover of players because there are so many people out of contract.

“If it is the Championship, League One or whatever division you are in, you need the balance between youth with pace and directness but you also need experience and leadership.

“It is fine having experience but those experienced players have to possess those leadership qualities and they have to be the right qualities at this football club.”

Harris also pointed out it didn’t necessarily mean members of the current youth team were guaranteed to make an instant step up to first team football now their old mentor is in charge.

“I wouldn’t say kids but players that are ready to perform,” he said.

“There are young players who maybe aren’t so ready but need games and time.

“Patience with the young players is definitely going to be needed by me, the club and the fans.

“I love to see one of our own play, as do the fans.

“They will see them in years to come.

“I spoke to the young U21 players in weeks gone by and said to them just because I’m the first team manager now it doesn’t automatically mean they are going to be given the chance to play.

“They have to earn that right to play but if they show enough ability, which a lot of them have this season, the opportunities will be there.”

Harris was appointed permanent boss on Wednesday after an impressive two-month interim spell in charge, the day after Rotherham’s 2-1 victory over Reading officially confirmed the Lions would be relegated.

And the former fan’s favourite, who is the club’s all-time record goal scorer, admitted deep down he always knew at some point after retiring as a player he would land the managerial role.

Harris said: “Yeah, I did. As I got older playing under Kenny Jackett I used to have some good chats with him.

“I listened very carefully to what he said, how he dealt with things and his coaching sessions.

“As I started my badges I used to watch his sessions and thought ‘one day this could be me’.

“I’ve always studied and thought about the game and sharing a room with Paul Robinson for a number of years he was very similar.

“It was always something that one day I thought it might be my pathway, maybe not quite yet but some day.”

He added: “I feel proud and privileged.

“My emotions are a bit mixed at the moment because I’m really disappointed and frustrated at where we find ourselves but also excited with a lot of positivity and forward thinking towards next season.

“I’m going to look forward, learn from our mistakes as a club and try not to repeat them.

“Now it all becomes about how we can progress and be better.”

Asked what the most important things he had already learnt from his spell as interim manager, Harris replied: “Honesty, hard work, as well as getting the balance right on and off the pitch with the recruitment of players with their mentality and their mindset.

“We know we will get some wrong but we need to get a hell of a lot right players wise to build a successful team on the pitch.”

He added: “We’ve already got people in mind but there are lots of conversations to be had.

“Within the current squad there are a lot of players out of contract so there will be conversations about that.

“I’ve got some thoughts, the board will have some ideas and we will have to get together and make some decisions in the next week or so.

“Then we will go and speak to the players after that.”

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