Gillingham have been refused permission to speak with Port Vale manager Micky Adams.

The Gills are stepping up their hunt to fill the vacant manager role at Priestfield following Andy Hessenthaler’s departure last month.

Adams, a former Gills player, has previously denied being interested in the job.

But a statement on Vale's official twitter account on Friday morning, said: “Port Vale have refused permission for Gillingham to speak to the club’s manager Micky Adams.”

Gills chairman Paul Scally is currently at the Football League conference in Portugal and is understood to have spoken with a number of people about the job, including Mark Robson and Keith Millen.

Adams recently told the Stoke Sentinel: "I totally refute the idea I am interested in the Gillingham job.

"I was linked because I was a former player at the club, but I was never interested in managing them and I am fully committed to Port Vale.”

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