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Gillingham will be an attractive proposition for any manager seeking success.
With their US owners willing to invest and a squad in place that’s already good enough to challenge for promotion in League 2, it’s a club that has plenty to offer.
Neil Harris endured a torrid start to his time as Gillingham boss, taking over a club bottom of League 1, but with the prospect of a takeover making it a little more appealing. Once the Galinsons took charge he was given the funds to improve the squad.
The CVs dropping in following Harris’ sacking are sure to be of a decent standard.
Former Oxford United boss Karl Robinson was the bookies’ early favourite.
He won promotion to the Championship at MK Dons and twice took Oxford United into the play-offs. He was most recently at Leeds United as no.2 to Sam Allardyce.
Other names in the frame include former Chatham manager Scott Lindsey, who has surprisingly taken Crawley Town into the mix at the top of League 2.
Lindsey’s football would fit the bill if people want to see possession-based attacking football.
Danny Cowley struggled at Portsmouth and was sacked at Huddersfield prior to that but fans of Lincoln City will forever remember his successful time in charge of them, returning the Imps to the Football League and taking them into an FA Cup quarter-final at Arsenal, then still as a non-league side.
Keith Millen is in interim charge at the Gills and has said he doesn’t want the job. Win a few games and he might change his mind.
Gateshead's successful boss Mike Williamson’s name has been included in the early running along with ex-Wigan boss Leam Richardson.
Former Charlton and Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer is currently the head coach of national side Montserrat but might fancy another crack in the Football League.
Mark Hughes was sacked by Gillingham’s League 2 rivals Bradford City shortly before Harris’ departure was announced but he failed to the business with reasonable tools in Yorkshire.
Nathan Jones, the ex-Southampton manager who has recently been linked to Sheffield Wednesday, has been mentioned while other top names can’t be discounted. With bigger resources at the Gills meaning they can afford to attract bigger names.
Whoever takes charge will be under pressure to get promoted this season.
The Gills said they wanted to move in a different direction after Harris was sacked but even if the football wasn’t always fluid and the goals were lacking, his side were just four points off the top of the table when he was removed.
Bringing in a ‘head coach’, rather than a manager, means training-ground skills and a hands-on role may be the preferred choice over someone preferring to delegate in a suit.