Gillingham chairman Paul Scally flies back from the Middle East this week to interview those hoping to become the new manager at Priestfield.

Current interim boss Peter Taylor is among those putting their name forward to replace Martin Allen on a permanent basis.

Mr Scally hopes to have the managerial position resolved before the Gills travel to Sheffield United on November 16.

“I have a few people to speak to,” said the Dubai-based chairman. “It is testimony as to how far the club has come that so many high-profile and experienced managers have put their application in for the job from all over the country.”

Taylor was quickly installed on an interim basis following Allen’s departure three weeks ago.
But Mr Scally insists he is keeping an open mind as to who will fill the void permanently.

Asked if Taylor was a shoe-in for the job, Mr Scally said: “If that was the case, I would have never made him interim manager.

“At the point I asked him to come in and do it, he hadn’t told me he was interested in the job full-time, that came about after the event."

Read the full interview in this Friday's Medway Messenger