Alex Neil has talked about Millwall’s late play-off challenge but does not think it is a similar situation to when he was appointed at Norwich City in January 2015.
The Canaries were seventh in the Championship table when they turned to the Scot, then just 33, on a rolling one-year contract.
Norwich went on to defeat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Wembley to win promotion to the top flight.
Millwall still have Premier League hopes as they head to Burnley on Saturday. If the Lions win and either Bristol City or Coventry City lose then they will secure a play-off place.
The Lions have won seven of their last 10 league matches to push themselves into the top-six equation.
Asked about if there are parallels to what he achieved with Norwich, Neil told the South London Press: “It’s different. What I do know is we had to win a helluva lot of games (at Norwich) to get in there.
“The difference with them is that they had come down from the Premier League – so they had the parachute payments. The expectancy there was that they still wanted to get promoted albeit the position in the league was not suggesting that. Whereas I think here we’re doing it in a very different manner. Norwich had probably a top-six budget then, I imagine. That is not where we are but I don’t believe money dictates where you finish, I think there are loads of variables that dictate that.”
Neil was appointed as Millwall head coach at the end of December with Neil Harris opting to quit.
Initially the club’s all-time record goalscorer stayed in the post as the South London club began their process of bringing in a successor.
“When I come in I never set any restrictions on ambition, in terms of what we can achieve and how we are going to do things,” said Neil.
“I have been fortunate in the past that when I have went in places, although it has been unexpected, we have gone on great runs and ended up in the play-offs and with promotion.
“I always believe those type of runs are possible. How the players have taken to what we have tried to do – their attitude and how everything is around the club – is a great starting point.
“All I’ve tried to do is add to that and build on that – try to accentuate the strengths we have had as a club.
“There are two different elements to any type of project. What happens on the pitch and what happens off it. Jimmy (Berylson, owner) and the board, certainly Jimmy, have got a clear idea of what they want the club to look like and what he wants things to be. My job is to try and implement that as best I can.
“Naturally that takes time. You can’t make too many alterations or changes too soon. It’s really important we nudge things along in the right direction but then you have got the other side – which is on the pitch. On the pitch I can’t have any restrictions because you can go and win every game but equally you can go and lose every game.
“From that perspective it is just a case of ‘let’s try and win as many games as we can’.
“The more wins you get on the pitch then the more buy-in you get and you are going to speed that process up. Jimmy and the club and realistic about where we want to go. If we can get there sooner than maybe scheduled – even better.”
