Neil Harris returns to Championship side Millwall as head coach – he was sacked earlier this season by Gillingham and leaves his role at Cambridge United

Neil Harris’ return to Championship side Millwall has been confirmed - less than five months after he was sacked as manager of Gillingham.

The appointment marks a tremendous turnaround for the 46-year-old coach who had been sacked by the Gills in October, only to take over at League 1 Cambridge United and now heads back to Milwall as their new head coach.

Harris - Millwall’s all-time record goalscorer and former manager - returns to The Den with trusted assistant David Livermore and Gillingham’s former title-winning captain Adam Barrett on his coaching team.

Gillingham’s former boss admitted he was surprised to get the call from Millwall as they targeted him as a replacement for departing boss Joe Edwards.

“To get the phone call to be asked to come back here was an honour,” he said.

Harris was axed by the Gills following a run of three games without a win. He left after the club said they wanted to “go in a different direction.”

Gillingham have since appointed head coach Stephen Clemence and he’s been attempting to implement a change of style after owner Brad Galinson demanded a more exciting brand of football at Priestfield.

Harris left the Gills when they were a point off the automatic promotion places, starting the season with four straight league wins and a victory over Southampton in the League Cup.

The Gills are currenty 11 points adrift of the top three now and scrapping with teams as low down as 16th for a coveted play-off spot.

Former boss Harris takes over a Millwall team who are just one point clear of safety in the Championship. During his previous spell as the Lions boss he led them to promotion from League 1 to the Championship after back-to-back play-off campaigns.

During his spell with the Gills he took