In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph on 6th October 2009,
former Northern Irish international Steve Lomas revealed that
he had a brief spell working for Norwich City with their youth
team:
"The move to Gillingham never really worked out,
he said. A new manager came in and then I was released.
I lost a bit of heart and at the same time I had a job working
with the youth team at Norwich City, which unfortunately fell
through because of financial problems at the club after only a
couple of months. In hindsight which is always 20-20 vision
I would have continued trying to play. I believe I could
have played at some level, but you make choices and the choice
I made was to go into coaching and management and Norwich City
are a good club. That ended about a year ago and I hadnt
had a pre-season and clubs look at that when you get to my age.
Lomas, a midfielder, first made his name with Manchester City
in the 1990s but then moved to West Ham United, where he made
227 competitive appearances and became club captain. On 31st August
2005, he was released on a free transfer and joined Queens Park
Rangers. He left QPR in May 2007, and joined Gillingham on 31st
July 2007. On his debut for Gillingham he was sent off in the
first match of the 200708 season against Cheltenham Town.
He was released by Gillingham on 31st January 2008.
On 23 March 2009, he was appointed as player manager of St Neots
Town
He returned to West Ham at the end of February 2011 as reserve
team manager, replacing Alex Dyer who had joined Chris Powell
at Charlton.
Steve was appointed manager of Scottish Premier League side St
Johnstone on 3rd November 2011. This was chairman Geoff Brown's
last act as chairman as he stepped down after 25 years in the
role. Lomas signed a two and a half year contract. He replaced
Derek McInnes who joined Bristol City. Lomas will be assisted
by Tommy Wright who stepped down
as Lisburn Distillery manager.
"It's the right time," said the new boss.
"Even when I was playing, I wanted to be a manager. The way
I played, I was captain at most of my clubs. I never sat about
waiting for it to happen. I have done my licences and courses
and got experience at non-league level. I coached the youths at
Norwich and the reserves at West Ham. I had a couple of offers
before this, but I feel this is the right club."
Lomas was interviewed after Saints failed to agree terms with
Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook.
Lomas led the Perth club to consecutive top-six finishes in the
SPL, securing a place in the Europa League qualifying round on
each occasion.
On 6th June 2013, Lomas was appointed manager of Millwall following
the departure of Kenny Jackett. Millwall chairman John Berylson
said: "Steve has great passion and energy, knows a lot
about Millwall as a club already, and this is a job he is genuinely
hungry for. We want the best man for the job, and we believe that
man is Steve Lomas." He was replaced as St Johnstone
manager by his assistant Tommy Wright
Lomas was sacked as Millwall manager on 26th December 2013 after
a 4-0 defeat to Watford left Millwall in 20th place. Lomas won
just five of his 22 matches in charge and the defeat at Watford
was the Lions' third loss in a row. "We are very disappointed
that it hasn't worked out for Steve," Millwall chief
executive Andy Ambler said. "He has been thoroughly professional
in his approach to the job during his short period with the club
and remains a very promising young manager. However, the board
feels that it is in the best interests of Millwall that we make
the change at this time and the search for a successor to Steve
begins immediately."
Steve won 45 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring twice.