Neil Harris: Gillingham appoint former Millwall and Cardiff City boss as new manager

Neil Harris takes over a Gillingham side 10 points away from safety in League One

Gillingham have appointed former Millwall and Cardiff City boss Neil Harris as their new manager.

The Gills have been searching for a new boss since Steve Evans left earlier this month with the club third-from-bottom of League One.

Gillingham had offered the job to Bromley manager Andy Woodman, but he turned down the role on Sunday.

Harris and new assistant David Livermore have agreed two-and-a-half-year deals at the club.

Their first game in charge will be the visit of Crewe to the Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday as Gillingham - who have since dropped to second-from-bottom - try and cut a 10-point gap to safety.

"It has been a difficult task over the past few weeks, interviewing and selecting the right candidate. But I am delighted that with Neil's experience, his knowledge and passion of this football club, and his desire to take the club on a new journey, that today is the start of a new tomorrow," chairman Paul Scally told the club website.

"After a difficult weekend, Neil's first job will be to oversee any movement of players, in or out of the club today, and to prepare the team as best he can for tomorrow night's game."

'Change world for the better'

David Livermore (left) has also assisted Harris in his previous jobs at Millwall and Cardiff City

Harris takes over from former Gills boss Steve Lovell, who had been in temporary charge since Evans left the club on 9 January after a 4-0 loss at Ipswich Town a sixth defeat in his final seven games in charge.

The former Millwall striker took over as the south London club's manager in the summer of 2015 and led them to the League One play-off final in his first season, which they lost to Barnsley.

He took Millwall back to Wembley 12 months later and won promotion to the Championship after beating Bradford City in the play-off final, while also guiding the club to the FA Cup quarter-finals in the same season after wins over top-fight sides Bournemouth, Watford and then-Premier League champions Leicester City.

He resigned in October 2019 after a seven-game winless run and took over at Cardiff City a month later.

The Bluebirds finished fifth in his first season before losing to Fulham in the Championship play-offs, but Harris was sacked in January last year with the club 15th in the table after a six-game losing streak.

He joins a club that have not won a match in any competition since 19 October - a run of 17 games - which has seen some sections of the supporter base criticise Scally, who says he is 'in talks' over possible investment.

"I would ask all supporters who care and love the club, irrespective of their views on other matters, to come out and support the club in force tomorrow evening and focus solely on supporting the team and showing the new management team the respect and consideration they deserve, which will enable them to start the process of rebuilding the team," the chairman added.

"It won't be an immediate fix but Neil will change the world for the better as quickly as possible. The work starts immediately."