GILLINGHAM interviewed highly-rated Steve Gritt for a coaching role at the club before his appointment this week as Charlton’s new academy manager, it has emerged.

Gritt, 46, met with chairman Paul Scally to discuss a role in player-manager Andy Hessenthaler’s back-room team.

He confirmed: “I had a meeting with Paul Scally but that’s all it was - a meeting. From the outset, I made him aware that I was in for the academy manager’s job at Charlton.”

As a player, Gritt he made 435 appearances for Charlton and joint-managed the club with Alan Curbishley between 1991 and 1995.

At one time Gritt was team boss at Brighton and Hove Albion who won promotion to the First Division this season.