Darren Hare has returned to Gillingham to take over as youth-team manager.

Hare, pictured, is no stranger to the role having previously served the Gills in a similar capacity.

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler said: "The chairman asked me if Darren would come back and we talked it over.

"With Mark Patterson leaving we needed someone to come in and it’s great that Darren is coming back.

"The chairman also said that Darren was the best youth team manager Gillingham have had during his time at the club, and it didn’t take long for me to get him to return."

Hare, 43, was also Hessenthaler’s assistant manager at Dover and he will still work with the first team at Priestfield.

Hessenthaler added: "He will work closely with the first team as well, alongside myself and Mark Robson."

Hare was previously in charge of Gillingham’s first-team in a caretaker capacity in 2004 after Hessenthaler quit as manager.