‘Major coup’ – Millwall boss brings back trusted key member of staff

Millwall head coach Neil Harris has moved to bring Laurence Bloom back to the club as head of performance.

Bloom held the position for six years before joining Cambridge United in June 2022.

Bloom was head of sports science at Charlton Athletic prior to his first stint with the Lions.

He also worked at Southend United as lead strength and conditioning coach.

“My remit in coming back to the football club over this period is not just about achieving success last season – it is about building moving forward and regaining the culture and environment that Millwall Football Club should be, is and always has been,” Harris told the South London Press.

“Certain members of staff are integral in that and have been in the past and continue to be.

“Someone like Laurence Bloom coming back to the football club is a major coup for the football club because of his knowledge of what is required to be a Millwall player. The culture that he sets within a football club is impressive.

“He is coming back to oversea and support medical, sports science, nutrition and kitchen is hugely vital in the modern game.

“He has extensive knowledge of some of our players and staff – but also leading the staff that he hasn’t worked with before is going to be integral, not just in pre-season and next season…but years to come.

“I’ve been really impressed with how the football club has grown in the last five years. There have been positive changes, in some quarters.

“The club has definitely grown into what I’d term a top-30 football club in the country, in some areas. Staffing levels have gone up in numbers and sometimes in that you have to get the right people.

“There will be some change in staffing areas in coming months because that is the industry we work in – for varied reasons. People either progress or move on, sometimes for family reasons.

“There are lots of areas still to improve. Sports science, medical and nutrition is an area I’ve looked at very closely over the past weeks and making sure we continue to move at the speed the game moves at – the game is so fast now.

“Tactically, technically and athletically the game is so progressive – making sure we move forward in a physical aspect is really important for us as a Championship club.

“It is not just about the players at first-team level but also the ones below, at U21 and U18 level, to develop them. That leads back to head of performance, who can pretty much set the standards and the whole structure of sports science and medical – from him downwards.

“It is not about overseeing every member of staff every day. It is about guiding, supporting and advising – being someone with extensive knowledge of the game that younger members of staff in the academy can tap into as well.”

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