Edinburgh Odds-On For Gillingham Position

Gillingham FC chairman Paul Scally picked up his pen on Tuesday to tell his fellow supporters that he had `no idea` who would be the next Gills manager. The letter also told fans to forward their own suggestions to the club as he begins the task of making `an appointment as soon as possible`.

`I have no doubt that you will all have your own views on who should be the next manager, what type of person it should be, what type of character and personality he should have.` The letter read.

`I`d be interested to have your views as supporters as all help is useful.`

The League One side are on the lookout for a new man to steer the ship after Peter Taylor was `relieved of his duties with immediate effect` on New Year`s Eve. Since the sacking of the 62-year-old former Bahrain head coach, the Gills have slid into the relegation zone with the club`s caretaker management team failing to pick up a single point from any of their three games in charge.

Whilst Scally may not have any notion of who will be his next employee, this hasn`t stopped the bookmakers from compiling a list of available and most likely candidates. A listed topped by current Newport County man, Justin Edinburgh.

Former Portsmouth defender Edinburgh was a long-time non-league manager before achieving promotion with County via the Conference play-offs back in the 2012-13 season. He had previously helmed Billericay Town, Greys Athletic and Fisher Athletic, and the now defunct Ruston & Diamonds.

What makes Edinburgh`s job with Newport all the more remarkable was that the side were sat in the relegation zone when he took over from Anthony Hudson in the 2011-12 season. He improved the squad sufficiently to see them move out of the drop zone and finish that campaign in 19th position.

Now, the Wales-based club sit in third position in League Two, one of the automatic promotion places. The 45-year-old has overseen a four game unbeaten run ahead of Saturday`s match away at mid-table side Cambridge United that has propelled them from seventh place to being a point better off than fourth place Shrewsbury Town.

Skybet have priced Edinburgh up at 8/11 to take up the reins at the Kent club.

Someone who has made their interest in the position public is former Accrington Town manager and ex-England international James Beattie. The 36-year-old confirmed to BBC Radio 4 that he had applied for the job and that he was `waiting to hear back from them`.

`Hopefully it will be a positive outcome.` He said.

Beattie has been without a management job since leaving Stanley back at the start of the season. He had led the team to 17th position and safety in his first full season in charge despite a turbulent start that had seen the side collect just four points, and no wins, from their first eleven games.

Nine to one (Skybet) says that the Lancastrian will make Gillingham only his second management role.

Another League Two boss who is hot in the market is AFC Wimbledon`s Neal Ardley, who can be backed at 8/1 with Betvictor.

Though the side aren`t pulling up any trees in the league this season (the Dons sit 12th with 33 points), Ardley has been praised for implementing the positive brand of football that saw his team push Premier League Liverpool close in the FA Cup. Adebayo Akinfenwa scored the only goal for the London side as they lost 2-1 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Should he receive the call from Gillingham, it would, too, only be Ardley`s second position in the hot seat.

Other names in the frame include former Wigan manager and `now you see him` West Brom assistant Paul Jewell (16/1 - Skybet), ex-Leeds man and long time absentee Dennis Wise (14/1 - Betvictor) and former journeyman Fin and FC Honka manager Shefki Kuqi (16/1 - Skybet).

Go To bet365

#Ad

15/01/2015     © Frixo 2026