AFTER days of speculation, former Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper has been named as Gillingham's new manager on a two-year deal.

The appointment was confirmed at a press conference on Saturday by chairman Paul Scally who said Cooper was the man he had always wanted for the post.

Cooper has the tough task of rebuilding the Gillingham squad on a limited budget and attempting to gain promotion from League 1.

He takes over from Stan Ternent who left the post after failing to agree financial terms with Mr Scally.

Ray Lewington, Graham Rix and former Aberdeen pair Steve Paterson and Duncan Shearer were also interviewed for the post along with Ternent's No 2 Ronnie Jepson.

Jepson, popular with the Gillingham supporters, will retain his job as assistant manager at the club.

Cooper has plenty of League 1 experience having guided Hartlepool into the play-off positions this campaign only to leave the North East club by mutual consent before the end of the season.

kmfm's Ed Cook has this report..