By Will Scott
EX-MILLWALL boss Dennis Wise backs Alex Neil to have the Lions competing for the play-offs this season – and thinks the club’s new transfer model can help him accomplish that.
Millwall nearly achieved a top-six finish last season, just four months into Neil’s tenure, but fell just short away at centurions Burnley on the final day of the campaign.
The Lions have had a mixed start to the season, winning all three of their away games and progressing to the Third Round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2022, but losing both league games at home. They currently sit twelfth, but with 42 league games left in the season, and have their sights set on competing for a play-off spot.
Wise knows what it takes to succeed at Millwall. Appointed player-manager in October 2003, he guided the club to their first FA Cup Final in 2004. The following season, he led them into Europe for the first time, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Ferencvaros in the UEFA Cup First Round, and also oversaw a tenth-placed league finish before stepping down in May 2005.
He sat down for an exclusive interview with Sky Bet, where he answered three questions submitted by the South London.
Millwall have adopted a ‘sustainable transfer model’ that has seen them recruit a lot of young, talented players. Do you think that’s a viable way for them to achieve their goal of competing for the play-offs?
“Millwall’s sustainable transfer model can help them achieve the play-offs,” Wise said. “You only have to look at what Chelsea are implementing to see the model – and maybe it can be done in the Championship as well. There’s nothing wrong with investing in young players. They’ve brought in [Mihailo] Ivanovic for around £2.8m, young [Josh] Coburn from Middlesbrough for about £5m, and [Luke] Cundle for £1m from Wolves, along with others. These are all young lads with potential.
“Alex Neil, as a coach, really enjoys working with younger players. He’s more of an on-the-field coach, someone who likes to develop and improve players. Some managers prefer handling older, experienced players, while others thrive on developing younger ones.
“They’ve got a solid strategy going forward, and with Alex Neil at the helm, he’ll do extremely well for them.”
Alex Neil has overseen an impressive improvement in form since being appointed in January. Do you think he’s well-suited to Millwall and the club’s unique environment?
“Alex Neil has shown before that he can guide young squads into the play-off spots, with both Norwich and Sunderland, so there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again. Of course, it does put more onus on him to deliver and manage the team. They haven’t started brilliantly this season – sitting twelfth – but the goal will be to climb and push for the play-offs.
“Alex is very honest, both in how he speaks and in how he comes across. Players will respond to that. He’s already got a strong track record – about 500 games managed with a win ratio of around 42 per cent. And considering he’s only been in this role for nine months; you have to give him time to fully implement his ideas.”
It’s been a bit of a mixed bag to start the season – do you see Millwall competing for the top six come next April/May?
“I’d like to think Millwall will be competing for the top six come next April/May. They’ve always been around, up there or thereabouts, but just haven’t taken that big step forward.
“I’ve got to say, though, they’ve spent money – they’ve had the ability to do that – so now it’s about pushing that little bit further. The next step is making sure they get into the play-offs and really give themselves a chance to go up.”
