Ex-Millwall and Ipswich Town star sacked for second time this season | OneFootball

A former Millwall and Ipswich Town player has been sacked in non-league football for the second time this season already...

Millwall and Ipswich Town remain locked in a battle for automatic promotion, with a final spot open behind Coventry City between four other teams.

The form of Southampton under Tonda Eckert has given Millwall, Middlesbrough, and Ipswich Town something to think about as this term comes to a conclusion. It will undoubtedly be a thrilling end to the campaign where three sides will take part in the play-offs.

For a club like Ipswich, the play-offs were the minimum expectation this season after relegation from the Premier League. However, a side like Millwall has never played in the Premier League and has failed to qualify for the Championship play-offs in every single campaign since promotion in 2017.

It will be a historic season for them no matter what, but failure and success will ultimately be defined by a handful of fixtures. Both Ipswich and Millwall have not hit the height they would have liked over the last few decades, having only played in one top flight season between them.

What they do share are some players in the modern era, including Bartosz Bialkowski and Massimo Luongo. However, Lee Martin is a famous name in the EFL who has represented both teams.

Former Ipswich and Millwall player Lee Martin sacked for second time in 2025/26

Martin enjoyed a well-travelled professional career. Born in Taunton but emerging from Manchester United’s academy and gaining early experience through loans with the likes of Rangers and Nottingham Forest. He later settled at Ipswich, where he became a dependable wide option.

As a player, he combined industry with flashes of attacking quality over several seasons. His crossing was particularly noticeable and a shorter stint of 69 appearances soon followed at Millwall after 106 games for Ipswich.

That was before spells with clubs including Northampton Town and Exeter City. After retiring, Martin moved into management in non-league football, using his EFL experience to help get teams into the Football League. But the 39-year-old has somewhat struggled so far.

Martin has been sacked from his magaerial role at non-league side Ramsgate. It's actually the second time he has lost his job this season, after being axed by fellow Isthmian Premier side Welling last October. Martin previously played for Ramsgate a few seasons ago but has since retired to become a manager full-time.

Martin returned to the Rams as boss in November and successfully steered them away from relegation trouble and into play-off contention. They look to have fallen short in the Isthmian League Premier Division after promotion in first from the South East Division last term.

Lee Martin will enjoy Millwall and Ipswich's promotion run-in

If Martin requires a silver lining, it's that he can fully immerse himself in the enthralling promotion race. Promotion is transformative for clubs like Ipswich and Millwall, with the power to reshape both their financial outlook and long-term trajectory.

The immediate uplift in revenue — through increased TV income, sponsorships, and matchday receipts — can obviously be substantial. It allows for greater investment in infrastructure, recruitment, and squad depth. It can raise the overall ceiling of the club and be crucial to competing again once relegated.

For someone like Martin, who experienced both environments at both clubs, the battle for promotion will be compelling viewing. It is for the neutral already and he can be a part of it. Beyond finances, promotion also shifts perception, attracting better players and increasing relevance at national and international level.

As fans, there’s a shared appreciation of how quickly fortunes can change, which only adds to the intrigue and emotional pull of the race. It looks like going to the wire, and the pair could be sat on the same number of points should Ipswich draw with Middlesbrough and Millwall win tomorrow.