Former Bristol City and Crystal Palace boss back in management after shock League Two sacking

Former Bristol City boss Keith Millen is back in football management, following the sacking of a former Cardiff City manager.

Millen last managed in February 2022 when he was in charge of Carlisle United, but chose to mutually part ways with the Cumbrians. He will now return to the dugout for the first time in 19 months after being named as Gillingham’s caretaker manager.

The League Two club have opted to part ways with former Cardiff City and Millwall boss Neil Harris, despite their positive start to the season. At the time of Harris’ sacking, Gillingham are eighth in the league standings, and are just four points off of leaders Notts County.

His last act as manager was to oversee a 2-0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra, and his team hadn't won since September 16, when they beat ten-man Morecambe 2-1.

A club statement read: “Gillingham Football Club has today decided to part company with Manager Neil Harris, who has been in charge at Priestfield for just over 20 months.

“The Club has decided it now wishes to go in a different direction and will begin the process of identifying a Head Coach to take the team forward.

“In the meantime, Keith Millen will take control of first-team matters on an interim basis with immediate effect.

“The Club wishes Neil and David best wishes in the future and we thank them for their hard work over the past two seasons.”

Millen's appointment at Gillingham comes on an interim basis, and he will juggle management duties alongside the head of Academy Coaching role he was appointed in April 2023.

Millen played for Bristol City between 1999 and 2003, and later joined their coaching staff.

He was under-17's manager, and later assistant to Brian Tinnion before taking caretaker charge of the club on two occasions. He was given the role in August 2010 when Steve Coppell abruptly left the club on the eve of the 2010/11 campaign.

Millen oversaw 57 games in his 14-months in charge at Ashton Gate, and led them to a 15th-placed finish. He later took up the assistant manager at Crystal Palace, working alongside Ian Holloway before becoming caretaker manager, and working with the likes of Neil Warnock, Tony Pulis and Alan Pardew.