Ady Pennock rounded off a whirlwind 24 hours as Gillingham head coach by bagging his first league win of the season.

After seven games without a League 1 victory, the pressure was growing on Pennock at Priestfield.

On Friday night, former Newcastle United player Nolberto Solano was rumoured to be taking over from him, with Ian Hendon coming in as his assistant.

But Pennock responded by guiding the Gills to three precious points against rivals Charlton on Saturday afternoon.

The speculation linking others to his job didn’t surprise the manager, but Pennock admitted it was tough to hear.

He said: “It wasn’t nice but the chairman spoke to me on Saturday morning, he quashed the rumours and told me they were just rumours, but I am in an industry where it could change next week.

“Hopefully that has given me another game.

“It was tough but it was nice to come in and get the three points. It’s given everyone a bit of a boost which we certainly needed. I needed it as well.

“We are in a ruthless business and if there are rumours then it’s not something you can stop.

Gillingham 1 Charlton Athletic 0

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“Being perfectly honest, I’m not surprised, because we were bottom of the league and we hadn’t won a game. You will get these rumours.

“I spoke to the lads before the game. It’s nothing about me or anyone else, whether it’s a new manager coming in or me leaving, it’s about Gillingham Football Club and us getting three points.

“That’s what we focused on and I knocked it on the head straight away. This is all about Gillingham, rather than any individual. This club will be here forever and that’s what it is all about.”

Solano, 42, has since denied he has spoken to anyone at Gills about the job. He is currently working as a coach for his national side Peru, trying to help them qualify for the World Cup, but is keen to work in England.

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