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Millwall are on the hunt for their next manager and the identity of another target has emerged
Millwall are conducting their search for Neil Harris’ replacement at the Den and Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley is reportedly another name on the club’s shortlist. The Dublin-born manager came through the academy at Arsenal and captained the Gunners’ reserve side but never broke into the senior team in North London.
He left Highbury for Drogheda United and had spells at Falkirk, Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic before retiring with Limerick in 2013 - before he had turned 30. The now 40-year-old previously admitted he had lost the drive to succeed that had first earned him a contract at Arsenal. He told Off the Ball: "We go away and you're in a system with lads from all parts of the world and 99 per cent of the time they've come from a professional background and we're coming from training two nights a week. Straight away we're at a disadvantage.”
Bradley went into management at the age of 31 as he was appointed at Shamrock Rovers in November 2016. He led the club to four-straight League of Ireland titles between 2020 and 2023 and won the FAI Cup in 2019. They were denied a fifth-straight title this year after finishing two points behind Shelbourne, who are managed by ex-Fulham and Chelsea player Damien Duff. Bradley has also taken the Dublin club into Europe on two occasions, first qualifying for the Europa Conference League in 2022-23 while they are currently in this year’s third-tier UEFA competition. They face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.
His achievements with Shamrock Rovers make him a “serious contender” for the Millwall position, according to a report from the Irish Mirror. Lions bosses will get the chance to have an up-close look at Bradley as his side take on Chelsea in London. The Irish club - along with Chelsea and Vitoria SC - are one of only three unbeaten sides in the competition and have their eye on a top-eight finish to progress into the next round.
They defeated Borac 3-0 in their last outing just under a week ago with an Irish side set to make it out of a group phase for the first time in European history. Bradley said after their win over Borac: "I can put game-plans in place, tactics and pick teams, but when you cross the white line, you have to have the character and the want to go and play under pressure and play in big environments, and they have done that. With that comes respect, because when people analyse you and look at you, they see a clear identity in what you are trying to do and how you do it. And when we do what we do at a high level it can be really, really good, and when we get it wrong, it can be really bad, but when we get it right, it is really good, and we have seen that tonight."
Bradley was previously linked with League One side Lincoln City but turned the club down to stay with Rovers. However, the pull of Championship football could prove tempting to the Dubliner. A host of other names have been linked with the Millwall vacancy, including the likes of Steven Schumacher, Mark Robins, Alex Neil and Mat Sadler among several others.
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