Steve Claridge Dismissed

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Millwall have sacked manager Steve Claridge after just 36 days, with Colin Lee replacing him as Lions boss.
Claridge, 39, who had two spells as a player with Millwall, was only appointed as the successor to Dennis Wise on 21 June.

"The board believe it was in the best interests of the club that this move was made quickly prior to the beginning of the season," said a club statement.

"Colin Lee has been appointed the new manager with immediate effect."

Lee, who had been brought to the club by Claridge and has yet to sign a contract, admitted he was shocked at the dismissal.

He said: "Steve was going to ask them if I could help out with the coaching on a non-contract basis.

"I left Steve with (former chairman) Theo Paphitis and set off back to the Midlands after the game with Gillingham on Tuesday.

"Steve wanted to get the permission of the board to take me on, and the meeting ended with him being dismissed.

"But I have not done anything wrong, to Steve or to anyone else. It's not in my make-up."

The Lions drew 2-2 at home to Gillingham in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, having been 2-0 down.

Claridge has overseen just four friendly games - two wins, a draw and a defeat.

The much-travelled striker succeeded Wise, who resigned in May due to differences with the incoming chairman Jeff Burnige.

But it has been a turbulent month at the club, with Burnige stepping down and several key players leaving the New Den since Claridge took over on 21 June.

This is an absolute disgrace and Claridge has had the dirt done on him here.

I am not supporting his management etc as i have no clue if he is a good manager or not. But for anyone to be sacked after a month in charged and not playing any competitive games is nothing short of a complete joke.

Hope Claridge sue's them and gets a big hefty payout.

[crowie]

I had heard he was on his way out last week. Quite rightly so if reports are true. Supposedly been seen at the club only 4 times since he was appointed manager. Millwall board were supposedly v pissed off with his lack of commitment and attitude to the job.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Is that what it is?

Fair play to that then if thats the case then. It said in my quote he had overseen 4 friendlies - didn't think that meant everything in general.

Then again. The blame has to be put on the board for appointing him.

Correct me if im wrong but didn't Claridge cover the Confed Cup for Channel 5? If so then the Millwall board would've known this in advance and should never have appointed him if as i would've imagined Claridge would've let them know he'd be away for around 2-3 weeks covering this.

[crowie]

I think it was even after the Confed Cup Kiko. When they came back to training he just wasn't about apparently. This is second hand obviously but its what I had heard. Interesting that he was bringing in Colin Lee to "assist" with training, probably more likely to take training.

He didn't go down too well at Weymouth when manager there I believe. Apparently used up a fair bit of cash and didn't exactly leave them in a good position. I am sure there was questions over his commitment there as well.

He was probably away to the racing or in the bookies or something

He can now go back to his "expert" commentating job on C5

[bluek]

He does quite a bit for Five Live, doesnt he ?

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Not sure Bluek. I haven't listened to FiveLive in about 4 years.

I used to like tuning in for the hour phone in after matches on a wednesday. Actually come to think of it, it must of been about 6 years ago as i used to use it to put me to sleep

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by crowie

I think it was even after the Confed Cup Kiko. When they came back to training he just wasn't about apparently. This is second hand obviously but its what I had heard. Interesting that he was bringing in Colin Lee to "assist" with training, probably more likely to take training.

He didn't go down too well at Weymouth when manager there I believe. Apparently used up a fair bit of cash and didn't exactly leave them in a good position. I am sure there was questions over his commitment there as well.

He was probably away to the racing or in the bookies or something

He can now go back to his "expert" commentating job on C5

Wouldn't put it past him heading to the bookies.

Everytime he is commentating on matches you always hear him through in some gambling terms like "you'd get good odds on so and so winning the game from here"

Maybe in a year or two we can add him to my "footballers jobs once they retire" once he signs up to the dole after going bankrupt.

[crowie]

He does like a punt. Lad at work was telling me about his autobiography - Tales From The Bootcamp. Said he would get his signing on fee and as soon as he had it rush off to the bookies. Claridge was/is certainly one of the footy players who likes a punt.

[zonker84]

I've heard that he'd lost well over £500,000 at some point or other.

He was always going to be in trouble at Millwall when the new chairman quit straight away. My personal opinion is that he would've been sacked if they'd have a bad first couple of months to the season, didn't expect it so soon.

If he really can't be arsed, he deserves it though

[A.M.P]

Read an insightful article from the Lions goalkeeper which basically said he deserved it and he told Claridge so! To paraphrase he said that he'd been a pro for a while and that the pre-season just wasn't right. The keeper said tongue in cheek something like "It's probably best what was said remains behind closed doors"

[Swooperman]

I'm sure thats its said that he only took a couple of transfers to pay off gambling debts with the s/on fee, rather than just going & blowing the lot afterwards if you see what I mean.......but with his cv who would have given him that much credit ??

[Swooperman]

Shite commentator too.......always sounds like hes dying for a piss.

[Oddsfellow]

Find it strange that he put forward Lee for the training and now the board have given him the managers job!! I mean if they wanted Claridge out fair enough but who decides Lee is automatically the best man for the job?

He appears on lot on the phone in thing on Sky and never seems short of an opinion but doesn't like it when others dont see it his way. Ideal manager in that case then.