Gillingham chairman Paul Scally will be hoping Andy Hessenthaler can develop links throughout Europe and beyond.

Part of Hessenthaler’s remit as director of football will be to forge links overseas in the hope of unearthing hidden talent.

The club have already benefitted with the arrival of Paulo Gazzaniga last summer, with Hessenthaler recently putting a £1million price-tag on the goalkeeper’s head.

Hessenthaler (pictured) has already invited a couple of players to the club following a recent scouting trip to Spain, before his removal as manager, and more trips are planned.

Mr Scally said: "I think it is a role that will pay for itself, especially if we manage to find some exciting talent throughout Europe and afar.

"He can go out and look at players and clubs, and get trading relationships in place, look at training facilities, youth development, other teams and all sorts of things. It is a fairly wide role."