TERRAS BOSS IS PERFECT CHOICE FOR LIONS - GRITT

From the Echo, first published Tuesday 21st Oct 2003.

FORMER Dorchester Town star Steve Gritt has ruled himself out of the running for the Millwall manager's job, and urged the club to appoint Terras boss Steve Claridge instead.

Gritt was Mark McGhee's assistant at The New Den until his surprise sacking in the summer, and has already been mentioned by Lions players as a candidate to succeed him.

But the former Brighton and Charlton boss reckons he has no chance of landing the top job, and insists ex-Millwall striker Claridge would be the perfect choice.

Gritt said: "I know I've been mentioned and it's nice the boys feel that way. The word I got when I left was they were disappointed and if that's how they feel now it's nice to hear.

"But it's not a question of me applying. There's no ill-feeling but I think the chairman is looking for somebody with a blank canvas.

"Steve Claridge has experience as a manager now with Weymouth in non-League football, and he would be a very popular choice. Popular choices are not always the best choices, but he knows the players and has their respect so it would be close to a seamless transition."

Meanwhile caretaker chief Dennis Wise insists he has one more year left in him as a player before he considers moving into the world of football management.

Wise enjoyed his first match in charge, a 2-0 win over Sheffield United, despite being sent off three minutes after coming on as a substitute in the dying stages.

But the 36-year-old is adamant he will not join a shortlist of candidates to succeed Mark McGhee on a permanent basis, preferring instead to extend his playing career.

He said: "I will be playing football in the future. I want to play football for one more year.

"I want to go into management eventually but I would like to do my apprenticeship first."

Wise was the surprise choice of chairman Theo Paphitis to take over the reins following McGhee's departure this week.

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