Millwall appoint Gary Rowett as their new manager

Millwall have appointed former Stoke and Derby boss Gary Rowett as their new manager.

The 45-year-old replaces Neil Harris, who stepped down at the start of the month after four-and-a-half years in charge at the Den.

Rowett’s first match will be against his former club Stoke on Saturday, with caretaker boss Adam Barrett overseeing Tuesday’s game against Cardiff.

“It’s incredibly exciting after eight months out of the game,” Rowett told the club’s official website. “Just feeling that buzz again really and being desperate to be back part of it.

“Getting an opportunity at a club like this – a really, really passionate club with a great history – for me that’s what it’s all about and I can’t wait to get started.”

Former Birmingham defender Rowett began his managerial career at Burton, before spells at Blues and Derby.

He was sacked as Stoke manager in January, having won only eight of 26 league matches following the Potters’ relegation from the Premier League.

Rowett revealed that former Millwall manager Harris had recommended the role to him.

“I spoke to Neil quite soon after he left, and typical of the character he is, he spoke volumes about the club, the people here and the fans and the fact that he thought it was a great opportunity,” he said.

“We wanted to come somewhere that just had a real football feel to it – I’m so excited, I’ve seen the fans respond to the team and the atmosphere’s incredible.

“We feel we can build something – we’re respectful of the fact that Neil and David (Livermore) have done so much work to bring the team to this level – and we want to maintain a lot of those characteristics but also take it on and improve in our own way.

“I’m really excited with the group we’ve got, it’s a really mobile, young, hungry group, and that’s exactly what we want to work with.

“Your aim every season if you’ve got a job in the Championship is to get into the Premier League, but I’m realistic and want to build firm foundations. I don’t want to set the bar too high or too low.”

Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh was delighted to get his man.

“It’s great to secure the signature of Gary,” Kavanagh told millwallfc.co.uk.

“It has been a long couple of weeks and we’ve worked extremely hard behind the scenes, but we’re delighted to get Gary here.

“He’s a proven and experienced Championship manager, and I think that’s important to take us to the next stage that we want to go to.”