Paul Scally was due to begin going through the endless applications for the Gills manager’s job at the weekend in a bid to narrow his search to just a handful of applicants.

While the speculation continues, Gills chairman Mr Scally (pictured) is quietly going about his business of finding the man to get the club back into League 1.

Mr Scally said: "It is not anything I am in a massive, desperate hurry to do. I don’t need to. I have a few weeks on this one so it is quite handy. I don’t have any massive rush. I will probably be looking at the names and drawing up a shortlist to talk to."

Port Vale boss and former Gills player Micky Adams was among the new names in the frame late last week but he dismissed reports linking him to the position. He has two more years left on a deal at Vale Park, where he has produced impressive results under difficult circumstances, as the club struggle financially.

Mr Scally, meanwhile, will be hoping that departed boss Hessenthaler agrees to take up the post as director of football, which was offered last Tuesday and then be part of the panel to choose the new manager.

And it was a decision Mr Scally was expecting sooner rather than later, saying: "At the time when we will be making the final decision, I will have expected to have got a decision from Hess by then."