Club: Millwall F.C.
High Position: 10th in Division One (1988-1989)
Current Position: 3rd in League One (Third Tier)
Based on some of last week’s comments and a few emails I received, I think some readers are expecting my look at Millwall to be focused on, how can I say this nicely, “supporter-related issues?” It will not be. It may surprise some to learn that whatever problems the club has had with some of it’s supporters, these problems have had essentially no impact on the club’s footballing successes and failures. No, Millwall’s fortunes and misfortunes- just like those of almost every other club profiled in this series- involve going into administration, more managerial changes than one can shake a proverbial stick at, and selling on it’s best players.
Let’s start with the managers. By my count, there have been no less than 19 managers since George Graham took over the club in 1983. Among the titles given to this group were “caretaker,” “interim,” “player-manager,” “joint.” and “inexperienced,” to name a few. More about this motley crew as we run through the club’s ups and downs over the last twenty-five years. Back to George Graham, probably the best manager the club has had in the last twenty-five years. He guided the club into the Second Division following the 1984-1985 season before leaving to take the helm at Arsenal for a decade. He was followed by John Docherty, who won the Second Division in 1987-1988 and saw the club promoted to the old First Division before suffering relegation the following season. Docherty, of course, was sacked as a result.
His successor, Bruce Rioch, who did little more than sell the team’s best player (Teddy Sheringham), something that would become a pattern at the club in future seasons. Rioch was followed by Mick McCarthy- he made a couple of ill-advised and expensive player signings before leaving to take the Republic of Ireland job and leaving Jimmy Nicholl to watch the club slide back into the Second Division (third tier) and briefly enter into administration, at which point John Docherty briefly returned to run the club. Interestingly, the club’s financial savior, was none other than Theo Paphitis of later “Dragon’s Den” fame (for those of you who watch BBC America). The club burned through several more managers before appointing Mark McGhee in the fall of 2000. He brought the club back to the First Division (second tier) before, of course, being let go at the beginning of the 2003-2004 campaign.
His replacement was player-manager Denis Wise, who led the club to the F.A. Cup final in his first season, losing to Manchester United, but gaining entry into the following year’s UEFA Cup competition- where they fail to progress past the first round. Wise left soon after and was replaced by Steve Claridge, who left after 36 days and never actually coached a match. His replacement, Colin Lee, did much better- he lasted five months. He was replaced by player Dave Tuttle who piloted the club out of the Championship and back to the First Division. That’s right, four managers in 2005. Tuttle was succeeded by Nigel Spackman who lasted all of eight matches. Four more managers since haven’t managed to achieve promotion back to the Championship…yet- they are in the playoffs at the moment!
And I didn’t even mention the obligatory scheme to surround the New Den with a hotel, retail, and housing development…or all of the chairman and board of trustee pissing contests that led to the the demise of more than on manager on this endless list and ired the club’s supporters to the point that they demanded a seat on the board.
Next week, Leeds United A.F.C….
Final blow? Even Frodo beat them down.
I remember Millwall as a kid, always a tough, tactical side. Physical, hard and usually pretty ugly to watch, but yet somehow effective. It’s sad what they’ve become. I have a couple of mates back home who are lifetime supporters and they are shocked at the state of the club, although hopeful. I think that describes most supporters these days, regardless of club affiliation.