Millwall: ‘Steve Lomas joins in the banter but there’s no way we’d cross him’

New managers often require a few weeks to convince their players they have the character to lead the club forward.

But Millwall’s dressing room did not even need to meet Steve Lomas to be convinced — he won them over simply by making the “very brave” decision to even take the job.

Those are the words of the captain, Paul Robinson, a one-club man who is well aware of the enmity that exists between Millwall and West Ham.

Lomas, after all, spent eight years at Upton Park and his affinity with West Ham is such that this week he had to deny internet rumours that he has a tattoo of the club crest.

Millwall’s fans made their feelings known — when his appointment was announced a banner was strung up on the gates outside The Den which, in explicit terms, made it clear some fans would not welcome him.

Yet opinions can be changed. A group of supporters chanted his name after Robinson’s testimonial last Saturday and is well aware that results are the only way to get the fans onside.

Ultimately, the players are the ones whose opinions really matter and after five-and-a-half years of working under Kenny Jackett they appear invigorated by the change of manager.

Jackett did a superb job establishing Millwall in the Championship but his stand-offish style contrasts sharply with Lomas, who is in the thick of the action on the training ground.

It is Lomas who calls out players with a questionable fashion sense and the 39-year-old regularly takes part in the training drills — and having retired from playing just three years ago, he certainly doesn’t look out of place.

There is absolutely no doubt who is in charge, though, and Robinson admits Lomas reminds him of Dennis Wise, who took the club to the 2004 FA Cup Final.

“Steve was a brave man to take this job with his history,” said the 31-year-old. “But it’s a sign of his character that he was willing to do that. It shows that he and his coaching staff are up for a challenge and a battle. It means he’s ambitious and hungry.

“A lot of people wouldn’t have wanted Kenny to go but now he has a lot are thinking ‘actually, it was the right time and Steve has been a breath of fresh air since he came in’. From the first day he was in the thick of it with the banter.

“We all went ‘woah’ when that happened as Kenny would take a step back and be observant, whereas Steve will give any rascal gear some stick, and he takes it as well.

“That being said, you wouldn’t cross him. He has that sense of authority around him and he reminds me of Wisey in that way.”

But Robinson and fellow defender Alan Dunne need little reminding of when they crossed swords with Lomas as a player.

It was some seven years ago when Lomas’s Queens Park Rangers beat Millwall 1-0, with Dunne sent off after an altercation with Mark Bircham. That day has been mentioned in the past few weeks but of more immediate concern are the changes in training under the new man, who has made a number of impressive signings in the shape of Steve Morison, Scott McDonald and Nicky Bailey.

“Steve is younger than Kenny and he’s maybe a bit more up to date in that it’s fresh in his mind what he liked as a player and what he didn’t,” said Robinson.

“Change is good in that it freshens you up as you can get into a routine and a way of doing things.

“Pre-season always used to be about running but we’ve been doing a lot more with the ball, which has been really enjoyable.

“Former players don’t always make great managers but sometimes they do. Steve has all the qualities to do well.

“He had a really good career and you respect him as he’s played at the highest level.

“He’s also been brave enough to bring in Neil Harris as a coach, who is a big figure here, as well as Mick Harford. They were very shrewd moves.

“And the atmosphere has been really good so far. Steve has seen an opportunity to take this club forward, that’s why he left St Johnstone to come here. We’re all desperate for him to be a success.”