Gillingham chairman Paul Scally hasn’t rushed his next managerial appointment and makes no apologies for it.

Steve Evans left as manager on January 9 and since then the club have turned to former boss Steve Lovell as the interim boss, with injured player Alex MacDonald assisting.

The club targeted Bromley boss Andy Woodman but he distanced himself from the job at the weekend after saying things were dragging on too long. Former QPR player Marc Bircham is now being talked about as a possible successor to Evans.

Commenting before Tuesday night’s match with Shrewsbury, Mr Scally wrote: “I am not one to rush these types of decisions, I carefully consider all avenues, speak to the appropriate people and ultimately make a decision which is in the best interests of the football club.

“I want to get this right and if that mean taking one or two more days, so be it.”

Lovell admits he has no idea how long he’ll be needed. He wants the job himself, at least until the end of the season, and is in conversation with the chairman about potential recruits with the transfer window closing imminently.

Any new manager will want to make changes but time is ticking and there will have to be a rejig as the Gills are limited to 24 players as part of the terms of their loan agreement. Mr Scally has said himself recently that “I am sure we will see a couple in and a couple out, that is bound to happen.”

The January transfer window closes on Monday night.

Mr Scally has called for “positivity from the stands” and he got that from the fans on Tuesday for much of the match in what wasn’t the best of spectacles. Gillingham were the better team but lacked the quality to finish Shrewsbury off. The match ended goalless.

There were still some “Scally Out” chants, however.

A draw against Shrewsbury lifts the Gills off the bottom of League 1 and a point closer to safety (now nine).

Mr Scally said: “Everyone legitimately has a belief we can get out of the situation we are in, but we need to get wins on the board as soon as possible to put pressure on the sides above us.

“Admittedly, it won’t be easy but throwing in the towel is not an option. That is not the Gillingham way. We will not give up.”