Justin Edinburgh is back in management less than two weeks after being sacked by the Gills.

He has been appointed manager of Gillingham’s League 1 rivals Northampton Town.

Edinburgh was sacked by Gills chairman Paul Scally last Tuesday with the club sitting 17 in League 1 and following an uninspiring 1-0 defeat to Oxford.

He previously managed Northamptonshire side Rushden & Diamonds, taking over the reins in 2008. He left when the club went into administration a few years later.

Northampton are currently one place above the Gills in League 1, although they have played a game more.

The Gills play Northampton away on the final weekend of the season, on Sunday, April 30.

Edinburgh will be joining a club who, by his own recent admission, will be on a bigger budget than the Gills.

Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas, reacting to the appointment, said: "Justin’s teams have always impressed me with the energy that they play even back to his Rushden days.

“His career has seen a solid progression upwards from non-league through to League One and he has managed a lot of games in his time, so the experience is there."

The Gills came from behind to beat Northampton 2-1 in November, under Edinburgh, with a stoppage-time winner.

“We talked about his time at Gillingham and why that ended," said Edinburgh's new chairman.

"It certainly feels like he has learnt a tremendous amount from that experience which will hopefully be to the benefit of Northampton Town Football Club.

Edinburgh said: “Northampton Town has a reputation of being a very well run club, with some fantastic training facilities and an excellent fanbase. There is potential there to take the club forward and I will work very hard to do just that.

“We want to provide a winning team and a team that plays football the right way. My teams are known for strength, high energy and playing on the front foot and I want to continue that here.

"I know how much the Northampton Town supporters get behind their team and I have experienced some fantastic atmospheres at Sixfields as an opposing manager and hopefully we can work together to enjoy some good times."

He takes over from Rob Page, who was sacked on Monday.