Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has now signed his two year contract extension.

At the end of January, club chairman Paul Scally announced that he was happy for Lovell to remain as manager beyond the end of this season, agreeing to hand him a new two year deal.

"That’s done and dusted," Lovell confirmed.

The Gills boss continued: "I am very happy too, I’m glad the chairman has given me the opportunity. I’m very happy with that."

Lovell had been put in charge following Peter Taylor’s departure. Initially on a caretaker basis, the former Gills player and coach was then handed the role until the end of this season.

It’s been an impressive six months in charge for Lovell, who began with an away win at Peterborough and followed that up with a number of unexpected successes. He has won 13 of his 34 competitive games in charge.

Lovell had taken over when the club were sitting second from bottom in League 1, without a league goal in any of the three games under the brief caretaker reign of Taylor.

Until recently the Gills have been pushing for a play-off place but defeats to Southend and MK Dons over Easter ended those hopes.

The 4-0 loss to Southend was out of character, having shown to be solid at the back throughout Lovell’s tenure, but they have since got back on track, with successive clean sheets.

Gillingham’s last game was a goalless draw against Blackburn Rovers, a result which saw the visitors lose their position at the top of the table.

The Gills have surpassed the 50 point margin that Lovell had targeted when first taking over and with five games to go the fear of relegation is long behind them.