A TEMPESTUOUS close season at Millwall erupted yesterday when Steve Claridge was dismissed after one of the shortest managerial reigns in England. A fractious relationship with some players and an ailing partnership with the board combined to leave his position untenable.

After playing up front in a friendly against Gillingham on Tuesday, Claridge is believed to have had a disagreement with Theo Paphitis, the former Millwall chairman, that ended with him being dismissed after 36 days and without having taken charge of a competitive match.

Claridge was said to be “deeply disappointed and shocked”, but, in thirteenth place, his managerial reign is far from being the shortest in Britain. Bill Lambton holds that record after he lasted only three days at Scunthorpe United in 1959.

Claridge was swiftly succeeded by Colin Lee, who had been brought in by the former manager to help with coaching. Lee, who was dismissed from his last job as Walsall manager in April last year, now faces what he says is “the most difficult job” he has taken on in 15 years of management. Millwall finished tenth last season but there are fears among some supporters that they could be dragged into a relegation scrap in the Coca-Cola Championship.

“The team has been taken apart from the end of last season,” Lee said. “Let’s not be kidded, it’s a very tough job. It was obviously very difficult for me because Steve is someone I’ve known, who I have worked with as a player and it was an awkward position to be in. But I have not done anything wrong to Steve or to anyone. It’s not in my make-up.”

It leaves Millwall, who reached the FA Cup Final and qualified for Europe last year, in chaos after a summer that has included Dennis Wise resigning as manager because of what he believed was a lack of money being made available to him by Jeff Burnige, who then stepped down as chairman after disagreements with board members about the sale of four senior players — in particular that of Daniele Dichio to Preston North End. Burnige, some felt, lacked the business acumen of Paphitis, who prudently moulded the club since he took it out of administration.

In the past week, Millwall have cancelled a friendly match against Iran, scheduled for Saturday, because of safety concerns and returned almost 1,000 tickets for the first match of the season, away to Leeds United on August 6.

After unsuccessfully courting several managers, Burnige appointed Claridge, dismaying at least one member of the board who believed that he did not have the necessary managerial experience after spells at Portsmouth and Weymouth. There was also concern among some players. “I’ve been through many pre-seasons and this one was not right,” Andy Marshall, the goalkeeper, said.

HERE TODAY...

Managers who didn’t stay long

3 days: Bill Lambton (Scunthorpe United), Apr 1959

4: Dave Bassett (Crystal Palace), May 1984

13: Micky Adams (Swansea City), Oct 1997

28: Tommy Docherty (Queens Park Rangers), Dec 1968

32: Steve Coppell (Manchester City), Nov 1996

36: Steve Claridge (Millwall), July 2005

44: Brian Clough (Leeds United), Sept 1974.

44: Jock Stein (Leeds), Oct 1978

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football