‘I have spent a lot of time studying and developing my philosophy'

DID you think Gary Rowett was just paying the mortgage with a stint as Colin Murray’s sidekick on Quest?

- Chris Dunlavy

Not so. For the Millwall boss, those Saturday evenings in the free-view backwaters were a source of inspiration.

“For any manager, the challenge is finding time to reflect,” explains Rowett, who assumed his place on the sofa after being sacked by Stoke in January last year.

“You’re so wrapped up in getting results that you never get that period where you can actually watch other teams and think about how you want to play.

“That’s what the punditry stuff gave me – an opportunity to study the Championship and really nail down what I felt was needed to be successful. It was brilliant, it really was.”

Not that the 45-year-old was ever willing to settle for a permanent slot amongst the Salvage Hunters, Outback Truckers and Gold Divers.

“You know, it did cross my mind once or twice,” he laughs. “I’d sit there with Colin thinking ‘This is a lot better than being abused by 20,000 people every other Saturday’.

“But part of life as a manager is the extreme nature of the job. Win and you’re on top of the world. Lose and your weekend is ruined.

Resurgence

“I think we’re all a little bit perverse in kind of enjoying that rollercoaster, and all the praise and criticism that goes with it. Punditry is a life of mediocrity in comparison.

“Don’t get me wrong – being a pundit is brilliant. I loved it and I’m thankful for the opportunities I had. But do I want to do that forever? Not just yet.”

Millwall fans are thankful for that. Shot-shy and sinking when Rowett replaced the fatigued Neil Harris in October, the Lions have since lost just four times in 19 matches.

In that time, Millwall have collected more points than any Championship team, with the exception of Leeds and Brentford.