Gillingham chairman Paul Scally believes the appointment of Andy Hessenthaler as director of football will ease the burden on his own shoulders.

Hessenthaler agreed to take on the new role just eight days after his contract as manager was terminated by Mr Scally (pictured).

The new position will see Hessenthaler oversee all footballing matters, including scouting and player recruitment.

Mr Scally said: "I am pleased and he will be a big addition to what we are doing.

"It will give us the opportunity of doing an awful lot more than we currently do, which can only be good for the team.

"It is a role that I have been doing an awful lot of but now it means that Hessy can get out and do a lot of the stuff that I couldn’t do and what the (yet to be appointed) manager doesn’t have time to do."

The hunt for a new manager continues with Peterborough’s first team coach Mark Robson – a former Gills coach – is soon to be out of contract at London Road and remains favourite for the job but there is no shortage of other people being linked.

Stephen Constantine, who has managed the national sides of Nepal, India, Malawi and Sudan and last season managed Cypriut top-flight side Nea Salamina, has put his name in the hat, while Steve Tilson, Martin Allen, Lee Bradbury, Andy Scott and even Paul Ince are being tipped to success Hessenthaler.