Alex Neil has talked about being unfazed at the prospect of picking up the reins at Millwall midway through the Championship season.
The Lions confirmed the 43-year-old as their new head coach today.
Neil was in attendance at their match on Sunday, a 0-0 draw at Coventry City which David Livermore took caretaker charge of.
The Scot’s first game will be on New Year’s Day, at home against Oxford United.
“I’ve been in at two clubs mid-season – Sunderland and Norwich – both ended up promoted,” Neil told Millwall TV. “I’m not suggesting that is where we’re going to end up.
“There are some coaches that really need a pre-season to bed in. I’m well-versed in taking over teams during the season. It certainly is not going to be easy. It’s going to be a challenge but I’m confident. Hopefully we pick up a little bit of form before the end of the season.
“I don’t like to put limitations on aspirations. I want to set the bar as high as possible. I’m not saying our aim right now is to get promotion this season. There’s a lot to be done in that sense. But if we can have a good run there is no reason we can’t be competing for the play-offs.
“It’s going to be a gradual process. It certainly won’t be wholesale changes overnight. There are a lot of good players who have been here a number of years and we’ve got a group of young players starting to emerge now. I’m a big believer in developing our own players but also you do need good quality senior players around that to make it work. It is getting the balance right.
“The next two games are probably going to be challenging. We have only got one day of prep before Oxford and then the same again before Sheffield Wednesday. Then there is a bit more time before the FA Cup game, I’ll be able to implement a lot more leading into that week.
“It’s very similar to when I went into Preston – a good environment and it’s not as if there are huge problems. The team wasn’t struggling. I had to go in and develop a style of play and bring some of the younger players through. I see this as a very similar project.”
Neil had been out of work since being sacked by Stoke in December 2023.
“You do miss it,” he said. “It becomes a bug you can’t shake off. I’ve been involved in football since 16 in a professional environment. I’m certainly raring to go.”
PICTURE: ALAMY