MILLWALL manager Neil Harris has highlighted the advice he has received from Kenny Jackett, Sean Dyche and Steve Coppell in his first full season as a manager.
Harris could cap a remarkable campaign by leading the Lions back to the Championship with victory over Barnsley in the League One play-off final this weekend.
Jackett was Harris’ manager in Millwall’s two previous play-off finals – the 3-2 loss to Scunthorpe in 2009 and the win over Swindon a year later.
Dyche, who has guided Burnley to promotion to the Premier League in two of the last three seasons, was Harris’ team-mate at Millwall for three seasons from 1999 to 2002.
Meanwhile, Harris explained the connection to Coppell, a former Crystal Palace manager, to NewsAtDen in April 2015, just after he had been appointed Lions boss on a caretaker basis: “Steve was recommended by a friend. He’s worked with (former Portsmouth manager) Richie Barker before at Crawley and he loves football.
“He’s not an employee of the club – he’s a football man with almost unlimited knowledge of the game.
“If at any stage we wanted to speak, then Steve’s at the other end of the phone…he’s a great guy and his knowledge is ridiculous – he knows everybody and everything.”
And Harris revealed he has been in contact with all three men during this campaign.
“I’ve taken advice from good characters like Stevie Coppell, Kenny Jackett and Sean Dyche over the course of the season. It’s been a good learning curve for me.
“It’s just little snippets, nothing I’m going to delve into now. Just little bits, with Ken I’ve asked him about previous years, what he did, how did he deal with something.
Asked if he will speak to Jackett before Sunday’s final, Harris said: “I will do and knowing Kenny he’s probably not sitting on a sunbed somewhere, he’ll be working away. But I will be touching base, yes.
Harris added: “Dychey’s brilliant, I shared a dressing room with him and we’re pals. He’s a good one on that level. Steve Coppell has been a sounding board all season, from afar.
“And I speak to managers after games, in the office afterwards having a glass of wine or a beer just to pick their brains. It’s been invaluable.”