Jason Brown is confirmed as Gillingham’s new goalkeeper coach.

The popular former Gills player was due to play for Sutton United this season but informed them he will instead be taking on the coaching job at Priestfield.

Brown, 33, played 126 league games for the Gills between March 2001 and June 2006, before a big move to Blackburn Rovers.

After five years with Blackburn, where he played just a handful of games, he had spells at Leeds, Leyton Orient, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Cambridge United and Dartford.

He currently coaches Arsenal ladies and he will be working alongside first-team keepers Glenn Morris, Stuart Nelson and Tom Hadler at Gills.

Gills boss Justin Edinburgh said: “We are very fortunate to have Jason on board. Not only has he played at the highest level but he also knows this club extremely well.

“I’m delighted he has agreed to join us, he’s extremely motivated to succeed as a coach and he will be of huge benefit to our team.”

“It's a dream come true," Brown told the club website.

"I've been doing my coaching now for a couple of seasons part-time at Arsenal and Millwall and when the opportunity came up to come back to this great club it was too good to turn down."

Edinburgh has been reshaping his backroom team over the summer.

Andy Hessenthaler’s surprise exit last week meant he has also been searching for a new assistant.

Last season the Gills utilised the services of former Millwall keeper Tony Burns, during Peter Taylor’s reign.

Former Watford keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens and Maidstone United stopper Lee Worgan also provided coaching for Gillingham’s goalies last season.

Brown is likely to be working with a new goalie in the coming days, as Edinburgh is in the hunt for a keeper to challenge Glenn Morris for the no.1 spot.

Nelson is expected to leave before the season starts with several clubs showing interest in the 33-year-old.