Gillingham appoint former Bristol City, Crystal Palace, MK Dons and Carlisle manager Keith Millen as head of academy coaching

Gillingham have added an experienced coach to their backroom department.

Former Bristol City and Crystal Palace coach Keith Millen's appointment was announced before Gillingham’s home game against Doncaster on Good Friday. Millen, 56, has been brought in as the club's new head of academy coaching.

The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Millen as Head of Academy Coaching. Welcome to the club, Keith! #Gills pic.twitter.com/YdvjeCNgG4

The Gills are looking at the possibility of having an under-21 side next season and Millen’s appointment would suggest things are progressing well. Manager Neil Harris

The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Millen as Head of Academy Coaching. Welcome to the club, Keith! #Gills pic.twitter.com/YdvjeCNgG4

Millen played for Brentford, Watford and then Bristol City, where he began his coaching career as the club’s under-17 manager.

He worked his way up and had a spell as caretaker before becoming manager of a full-time basis.

A brief spell as a coach at Blackpool was followed by a move to Crystal Palace as assistant manager under Ian Holloway. He ended up having caretaker manager spells on several occasions after working under Tony Pulis, Neil Warnock and Alan Pardew. He left when Sam Allardyce took charge in January 2017.

He was quickly back in work, briefly with the Tottenham development team, before joining MK Dons as assistant manager and later the caretaker boss.

In October 2021 he was appointed manager of Carlisle United but left a year ago with the club inside the relegation zone.

Over his career he’s taken charge of 100-plus league games as the various clubs he’s been associated with.