GARY Rowett is expected to be confirmed as the new permanent manager of Millwall within the next 48 hours.
Rowett was on a three-man shortlist with current caretaker Adam Barrett and Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth to replace Neil Harris and impressed when interviewed for the position last week.
The Lions play Cardiff City on Tuesday night and Rowett is set to watch his new side from the stand at The Den.
Barrett will take charge against Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds and he will stay on as part of the new manager’s coaching team.
Rowett was out of contract after leaving Stoke last January. He will name Callum Davidson (above, right, with Rowett) – his assistant at Stoke – as his right-hand man at The Den.
Rowett started his management career at Burton whom he led to fourth place in League Two in his first full season in charge before they lost to Bradford in the play-off semi-finals in 2013.
The Brewers reached the final the following year after finishing sixth but lost 1-0 to Fleetwood at Wembley.
Five months later Rowett took over at relegation-threatened Birmingham and guided them from second-last to a 10th-place Championship finish.
Blues repeated that finish the following season before Rowett was surprisingly sacked in December 2016 with the side seventh in the Championship.
Rowett took over at Derby in March 2017 and the Rams finished ninth in the second tier. The next campaign brought more play-off heartbreak as Derby lost to Fulham in the semi-finals after a sixth-place league finish.
Stoke appointed Rowett on a three-year deal that same month, reportedly paying Derby £2million in compensation.
Rowett’s contract was terminated the following January despite just three league defeats in the previous 17 games that included a 10-game unbeaten run.
Rowett has faced Millwall three times as a manager. His Derby side won 3-0 in their Championship game in December 2017 before a 0-0 draw at The Den a month later.
Stoke beat the Lions 1-0 at home last season.
Bromsgrove-born Rowett was a defender who played 441 senior games, including in the Premier League for Everton, Derby, Leicester and Charlton.
Rowett’s first game in charge is set to be against Stoke on Saturday – with a south London derby against the Addicks his third at the helm on November 9.
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