Gillingham sacked Steve Lovell after 92 games in charge.

He took over a team sitting second from bottom in League 1 when appointed caretaker boss back in October 2017.

Lovell went onto take the management job permanently and left on Friday with the club sitting 13th in the table, having guided them clear of the relegation scrap.

Here we look back on the highs and lows of his 19 months in charge.

Peterborough 0 GILLINGHAM 1 - October 14, 2017

Steve Lovell’s first game at the helm is away to Peterborough, having only taken the helm days before following Peter Taylor’s unexpected departure. The Gills played well and thoroughly deserved their 1-0 win, secured with Lee Martin’s 35th minute goal.

Walsall 0 GILLINGHAM 1 – November 18, 2017

Lovell had been handed the job on a permanent basis and he celebrated with another away win, moving out of the bottom four thanks to Conor Wilkinson’s winner.

GILLINGHAM 4 Bristol Rovers 1 – December 16, 2017

Home results during Lovell’s time as manager were harder to come by than unexpected away ones but they put Rovers to the sword in style with Mark Byrne’s second striker being struck on the volley to clinch a big win.

Carlisle United 3 GILLINGHAM 1 – December 19, 2017

Gillingham had hopes of reaching round three of the FA Cup but League 2 Carlisle United scuppered those hopes following a poor performance up north in the replay. The Gills had failed to beat them at home earlier on, drawing 1-1.

Charlton Athletic 1 GILLINGHAM 2 – January 1, 2018

The Gills started 2018 in the best way possible by beating near neighbours Charlton at The Valley for the first time ever! Josh Parker and Tom Eaves put the Gills ahead before a great backs to the wall second half performance got the job done.

GILLINGHAM 2 Fleetwood Town 1 – January 27, 2018

This was Gills’ fourth win in a row! Things were looking up for Lovell’s men as victory took them up to the dizzying heights of 10th in the league. Tom Eaves was the main man again, scoring twice, including a last minute penalty winner as the Gills completed a comeback win.

Portsmouth 1 GILLINGHAM 3 – March 10, 2018

Lee Martin and Conor Wilkinson both scored stunners as the Gills completed another first, winning at Fratton Park for the first time in the club’s Football League history.

Southend United 4 GILLINGHAM 0 – April 2, 1018

This was about as bad as it gets, four goals down at half-time and your captain Lee Martin sent-off too. The only positive was that it didn’t get any worse in the second half but by then many of the away fans had already given up and gone home.

GILLINGHAM 5 Plymouth 2 – May 5, 2018

The Gills secured their League 1 status and ended the season in style with a Tom Eaves hat-trick and a big win over the visitors.

Accrington Stanley 0 GILLINGHAM 2 – August 4, 2018

Promoted League 2 side Accrington were no match for the Gills as they showed signs that they could just be a threat in the division, with a great attacking display and a solid 2-0 win, backed up with victory over Burton in their next game.

Rochdale 3 GILLINGHAM 0 – September 15, 2018

This was a poor game from the Gills – the previous game at Rochdale had been Ady Pennock’s last – and this was no better. Lovell blamed the players, saying “it’s their fault” in the post-match press conference. This came shortly after describing a home defeat to AFC Wimbledon as embarrassing.

Portsmouth 0 GILLINGHAM 2 – October 6, 2018

The Gills hadn’t won at Fratton Park for so long but did it again in October, with goals from Tom Eaves and Alex Lacey enough to beat the then league leaders.

GILLINGHAM 2 Portsmouth 0 – December 26, 2018

Lovell’s men once again beat Pompey, securing the league double over them with a 2-0 win at Priestfield. Josh Parker got the first and Callum Reilly sealed it with a stoppage-time penalty.

GILLINGHAM 1 Cardiff City 0 – January 5, 2019

Gillingham made up for their exit at Carlisle the year before by winning their round three match against Premier League Cardiff City. Elliott List got the winner as the Gills hung on and defended brilliantly against the Welsh side.

GILLINGHAM 0 Walsall 3 – January 19, 2019

Not long after their cup success, they turned in a shocker against a Walsall side in freefall. They were two goals down after 19 minutes and were booed off, not for the first time at home.

GILLINGHAM 1 Barnsley 4 – February 2, 2019

Gillingham were unable to compete against high-flying Barnsley and were outclassed and well beaten. They dropped into the bottom four with the heavy home defeat/

GILLINGHAM 0 Shrewsbury 2 – April 13, 2019

Another home shocker, this time against a poor Shrewsbury team. Lovell said he felt let down by the players and the chairman described it as embarrassing.

What next for the Gills?