Gillingham are on the hunt for a new goalkeeping coach following Glen Johnson’s departure.

Johnson has decided to leave the club after one season working with the senior keepers.

Boss Steve Lovell praised the departed coach but knows there are plenty of willing suitors to fill the void.

Lovell said: “He is a great lad, he did a good job and I would have liked for him to stay, but with the travelling from Essex and his business, it got a bit too much for him.

“You have to give a little respect to Glen and say ‘fair enough’. If that’s what he wants to do, I am not going to hold any grudges and we will get someone else.

“We are in the process of getting someone back in now to work with the goalkeepers. That will be done, someone I can trust.”

Johnson was brought in last summer after replacing Ian Pledger.

“We have had loads of goalkeeper coaches over the years,” said Lovell.

“Jimmy Walker, Tony Burns, Pledge, there have been loads come and go.

“Glen said he was a bit worried about the goalkeepers and about them getting used to someone else but he doesn’t need to worry, you are soon forgotten, as soon as another coach comes in, the same as me as a manager. Once one is out of the door another comes in and you are working for them, that is part of football.

“I told him not to worry about it, to get himself sorted with something else and thanked him for everything he did, he was great and it’s a shame it didn’t work out, hopefully he will be happy with his new role.”

When a coach is appointed he will be working with three senior keepers, two of them vying for the no.1 spot. Young stopper Louie Catherall has stepped up to add extra competition from the youth team this year.

Tom Hadler was pushing Tomas Holy towards the end of last season and

Lovell is happy with his goalkeeping options, for now,

“I am (happy),” Lovell said. “We have three on the books and they will be playing over pre-season. Whoever performs the best will start.

“Tom Hadler has an opportunity now to push Tomas. He has a chance. Tom Hadler has waited for his opportunity and Tomas had a really good year and deserved the games he played but it’s a new season.

“If the pair don’t perform during pre-season then it’s something I have to look at but there is no reason they shouldn’t because they are good goalkeepers and both can play League 1 football, that is why they are still here but they have to prove it.”