Former Millwall first-team coach Adam Barrett reunited with Neil Harris at Cambridge United
BY MAX HALL
Former Millwall first-team coach Adam Barrett has linked up with Neil Harris at Cambridge United.
The 45-year-old was part of the Lions backroom team when they won promotion from League One in 2017.
Barrett, a defender who had a season with Crystal Palace and a loan spell with AFC Wimbledon during his playing days, spent seven years on the coaching staff at The Den, departing in December in the wake of Harris’ decision to end his third spell in charge of the club.
During the duo’s first term on the sidelines, Millwall returned to the Championship after Steve Morison’s goal, five minutes from time, earned a 1-0 win in the League One play-off final at Wembley.
The Lions consolidated in the second tier for two seasons and, when Harris stepped down as manager in October 2019, Barrett stepped in as caretaker, guiding the team to a 2-1 win over promotion favourites Leeds United at The Den in his first game in charge.
The Dagenham-born coach remained on the staff under Harris’ successor Gary Rowett and was again given the caretaker manager role when he left in October 2023.
Barrett returned to his backroom role under Joe Edwards and then under Harris, who returned to SE16 in February last year.
When Harris left Millwall in December, Barrett followed suit, citing his ambition to become a head coach or manager in his own right.
He told the Millwall website at that time: “The club has been so supportive of my desire to step into management. It’s a role I have enjoyed twice in the interim [between permanent managers] at Millwall and that only fuelled my hunger further to take the next step in my career.”
After a couple of months out of the game, Harris accepted the role of head coach at Cambridge United, returning to the club for a second spell in charge after initially leaving three months into an 18-month contract, in February last year, to go back to Millwall.
United were bottom of League One when Harris returned three months ago and finished the season second from bottom, nine points from safety.
Harris told Cambridge’s official website: “I am delighted to welcome Adam to Cambridge United. He is somebody I have known as a work colleague, assistant head coach and a competitor on the football pitch over many seasons.
“I believe we have brought in the highest calibre candidate and personality to support me and the current staff. He is a man with huge integrity, vast coaching experience and a real drive to develop player and win football matches.”
Barrett added: “I am absolutely delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started. It’s a club that wants to push on and move forward and that is reflected in the conversations I have had with Neil and Mark.
“I want to be part of the journey. I think I can come in and really help and it’s an exciting new challenge for myself.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
