TWTD understands former Millwall and Cardiff manager Neil Harris has applied for the management vacancy at Town, while a number of the other reported contenders are not in the running for the role.

The Blues’ recruitment process is still in its early stages following Paul Cook’s sacking last Saturday with Town’s new ownership in no rush to make an appointment while at the same time keen that the process shouldn’t drag on for too long. Contrary to some reports, no formal shortlist has been drawn up.

Harris, 44, moved to favouritism with the bookies yesterday morning and, following reports that he was keen on the role and under consideration later in the day, moved in to 5-4 on.

In January, TWTD revealed that Harris was among the managers under consideration by former owner Marcus Evans - who, as we reported last night, is currently in talks regarding a move for Championship club Huddersfield - prior to Paul Lambert’s tenure coming to an end.

Harris, who is from Orsett in Essex but is understood to have family in Suffolk, was a striker in his playing days most notably with Millwall, while also featuring for Nottingham Forest and latterly Southend.

He was named the Lions’ permanent boss in 2015 having had previous stints as their caretaker boss while in charge of their U21s.

Harris remained at the Den for five years, taking them into the League One play-offs twice, winning at Wembley in 2016/17, having been beaten in the final the previous year.

He spent only 14 months at Cardiff but saw them to fifth in the Championship before losing to Fulham in the semi-finals.

Harris's application is only one of plenty of applications received with CEO Mark Ashton's team having begun to sift through them earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, we understand there is little likelihood of former Norwich and Preston boss Alex Neil getting the Portman Road job despite reports that he is keen in the Scottish press last night. Similarly, former Celtic boss Neil Lennon would appear unlikely to be the successful candidate despite reportedly being interested.

Ex-Blues skipper and coach Tony Mowbray has also been linked but it’s understood there is no chance he will be leaving Blackburn Rovers, with the Lancastrians currently fourth in the Championship.

Former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was mentioned in connection with the job earlier in the week and while he might have considered Town if they were in the Championship, it’s believed the one-time Derby boss would not want to drop into League One.

Lampard’s Chelsea and England team-mate John Terry is looking for his first club as a manager having left Aston Villa where he was assistant boss but we understand won't be under consideration for the position at Town.

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton was believed have been eyed by the Blues’ owners ahead of the takeover, Ashton and chairman Mike O'Leary having previously worked with him at West Brom and Oxford, but TWTD has learned is not presently being looked at as part of the current process.

Sunderland’s Lee Johnson, who worked for Ashton at Bristol City, is also not under consideration.

One-time Blues academy player and coach Liam Manning, who took charge at the MK Dons earlier in the season, is also not currently a contender.

Speculation that ex-Blues defender Frank Yallop and former Waterford boss Marc Bircham, who was at the Charlton game the other night, might be in the running is also wide of the mark, despite the pair having worked at Arizona United, who became Phoenix Rising, the club in which the Blues’ American investors are among the co-owners.

Photo: Action Images

Karlosfandangal added 16:10 - Dec 10 Harry Rednapp for me
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ITFC_Singapore added 16:11 - Dec 10 Can we not just get Warnock for the rest of the season ? If he does well then great and he could maybe stay on.....if not then there are always more managerial options at the end of a season than in the middle.
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Bert added 16:20 - Dec 10 I'm sure Phil has headlined this to get posters in a frenzy ! Let the process prevail. I'm sure Ashton will be very aware of the need to appoint the right person for the club and it's players and supporters.
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therein61 added 16:21 - Dec 10 Well Ashton pulled transfers out of the hat when we least expected the player to sign, just pray he does it with a decent manager.
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blues1 added 16:22 - Dec 10 Ricardo5555. It wasn't just Ashton decision to sack cook . Was also the owners decision. And think you'll find it was more than just results on the pitch that was thexreason for his sacking.
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Billericay12 added 16:23 - Dec 10 Perhaps there should be more emphasis on the players ? Most people seemed positive about most of the players recruited and I agree some are decent but some have been poor. Paul Cooks credentials and previous record were better than nearly all of the candidates suggested so far and he still failed. Maybe it just needed a tweak in the January transfer window to turn the corner ? Need another 2 good centre backs to play alongside Edmondson and someone to play left wing back(maybe Coulson) with KVY as a right wing back. Change formation to 3-5-2 which gives us the 2 up top we all want to see. Job done !!! I agree with blues1. Who do we expect ? We have no say in the matter anyway and all we can hope and trust that they make a good appointment and get behind them.

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Marinersnose added 16:39 - Dec 10 I think fans can remain positive regarding any appointment. They haven't got a particularly hard act to follow. Most managers out there should be able to improve on the stats. For me we need a strong character who will shakeup the primadonnas brought in by Cook. The playoffs are still a realistic possibility with the right appointment.
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EssexTractor added 16:46 - Dec 10 From what we have seen so far there has not been an obvious first eleven out of the nineteen players purchased. Walton has shown ability beyond League One Edmundson also If provided with service so has Bonne Celina yes, but not over 90 minutes The remainder glimpses only , not sustained performances…do they have it in them.? Whoever arrives is likely to have this group this season..and magically has to find proper midfielders from somewhere. The biggest missing pieces of rebuilding ITFc …which has sadly existed for years . So Mr Ashton really now this is your most important task since arriving .

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stocktractor added 16:50 - Dec 10 blues1 the keyboard warrior. you do your bit and support Harris when he gets the job he was sounded out about 3-4 weeks ago and you tell yourself youre doing the right thing. harris out banner already being made
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stocktractor added 16:53 - Dec 10 billericay12 pint ?
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BlueBlood90 added 16:54 - Dec 10 So really the only candidate at the moment is Neil Harris? Surprised we haven't got Manning on the shortlist. He seems ideal long term to fit in with what we want the club ethos to be in future not just the next 12 months.
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Drifter3012 added 16:55 - Dec 10 He has applied for the job. I can't see our owners waiting on applications. I truly hope they are being more proactive than waiting to see who is interested. Media speculation is usually way off the mark when it comes to manager appointments. I am still of the opinion the owner's might just give JM and his team a couple of games to see how things go.
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TB42 added 17:01 - Dec 10 The mere fact Marcus EVANS considered him should be enough!!
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ArnieM added 17:09 - Dec 10 Says a lot at the stature of this Club that a manager of a current 8th Placed Championship Club is applying for a job at a current League One Club!
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AljoBlue added 17:28 - Dec 10 Whilst not getting results we were trying to play decent football under Cook. If Harris gets the job then I won't be at Portman Road unless he transforms from hoofball
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DaGremloid added 17:34 - Dec 10 Oh dear, it's blues1 the stalker again! Too much time on your hands now that Cooky-Wooky has gone?
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DaGremloid added 17:34 - Dec 10 Oh dear, it's blues1 the stalker again! Too much time on your hands now that Cooky-Wooky has gone?
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happybeingblue added 17:48 - Dec 10 whilst Neil harris did a very good job at millwall it will be land of the giants long ball styley very similar to big mick. always feel he comes across as a nice fella on media, our current squad would not suit his style too many ball players and not enough grafters. so he would have to rip up and go again and turn it round in 4 months or else the boo boys would come calling again.

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nix290 added 18:26 - Dec 10 I know this will be contentious but we were fools to lose MM. He performed miracles with zero money. Those heady days of playoffs seem a long time ago now.
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thecheek added 18:48 - Dec 10 Phil.....has Warnock been mentioned at all? Not a fan but if there is such a thing as a safe bet then he'd surely be the one out of those that we would realistically have a chance of getting.. ..
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Bradleyblue89 added 18:53 - Dec 10 Honestly don't understand the people who were over the moon about Cook going. I'm not saying I was happy with how things were, but I honestly don't think he's worse than what we've been linked with.
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tractorlad01 added 19:15 - Dec 10 Very uninspiring. Surely we can do better.
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jollyroger added 19:16 - Dec 10 Please mr Ashton give Liam manning a call think he would be a great fit , all the names being thrown about don't fill me with excitement. If we can't get manning i would look abroad
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Saxonblue74 added 19:26 - Dec 10 "Supplying" for the job Blues1? If you're going to abuse other posters and their opinions you need to sharpen up a little or you run the risk of making yourself look foolish!
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blueprint added 19:35 - Dec 10 Christ we have some deluded fans. Yes Harris would not be the most exciting of choices of manager but if he is chosen give him a chance. The club has suffered years of decline where now to extent the feeling around the club a lot more positive than of late wit crowds home and away up. The last thing any new manager needs is a bunch of fans who are not even prepared to give him a chance.

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