Jackett named Millwall boss

Manchester City reserve team manager Kenny Jackett has left the club to become manager of Division One Millwall.

The former Watford defender, who joined City in March this year, was given permission to talk to the Lions following the recent departure of Willie Donachie from the New Den.

Kenny has previously managed at Watford and Swansea, who he took into Division One via the play-offs in 2005.

As Blues reserve team manager, Kenny won the Manchester Senior Cup in 2007, his young side sweeping rivals Manchester United aside 3-1 at Old Trafford.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has paid tribute to Kenny, saying: "We wish him good luck, I’m sorry that we have lost him because he has been doing a great job since I came to the club.

"He’s worked particularly well with the youngsters, and also helped us out with the first team when Hans was away. He goes with our best wishes and we wish him good luck for the future."

-mcfc.co.uk

Jackett of course was brought in by Stuart Pearce to fill a gap created by Frankie Bunn's departure, and probably proved a useful link for Eriksson when he arrived at the club - particularly so when Hans Backe left the club.

Was it the lure of being the main man and getting back into management that prompted the decision, or did he feel that perhaps his role was not what it was when Pearce was at the club. After all, Eriksson has brought both Backe and Tord Grip to the club - not to mention Derek Fazackerley still retaining a role.

With the youngsters that have, and are coming through to the first team though, it is a role that has some importance at the club and it will be a key decision that Eriksson makes in deciding who he brings in, or puts into the position to replace Jackett.

Pearce grabs his Jackett

Not quite as I expected it to pan out, but it seems that one of the issues on the agenda at Monday's 'lengthy' board meeting was to ratify the appointment of Kenny Jackett as reserve-team manager, although Stuart Pearce was quick to point out his role/duties would not be restricted solely to reserve team matters:

"He’ll take our reserves, but because of the squad and the nature of how we operate he will be working with the first team for a fair proportion of the week and will be involved on match days at the weekend.He’s enthusiastic, he’s a good man and I think he’ll be a major asset to this football club.

"I have two assistants now that have both managed and that in some ways is invaluable. Steve Wigley has been a fantastic help to me and Kenny will fit in well.

"Maybe at the end of the changes I now have a better staff than I did two weeks ago."

Jackett seemed to be doing a good job with Swansea until the end of last season, and was perhaps unlucky not to take them up into the Championship, but the wheels came off a little this campaign and he left the club by 'mutual consent'. Still, Pearce appears confident in him and following the departures of Flowers and Bunn the coaching staff needed padding out again.

So it seems that Pearce's position is safe for now, or certainly until the end of the season, and whilst it may not be on the scale of a new appointment to the managers position, maybe Jackett's appointment will give the playing staff a lift over the coming weeks.