GILLINGHAM'S player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has hinted that he may be ready to further his managerial career away from the club at West Ham.

A radio report suggesting that West Ham director and caretaker manager Trevor Brooking was full of admiration for the job Hessenthaler had done on limited resources at Priestfield flattered the Gills chief.

Hessenthaler said: "If an offer came in and the chairman was prepared to let me talk to them, then I would. I'm concentrating on Gillingham at the moment, but I'm ambitious and want to manage at the highest level."

Hessenthaler, 38, is rated by the bookmakers as as 80-1 outsider for the West Ham job, made vacant by former Gillingham manager Glenn Roeder's sacking last month.

West Ham are reported to have received up to 40 serious applications for the post.

Brooking, who is unbeaten in his caretaker role for the Hammers, said: "I've got a blank sheet of paper in front of me. Lots of names are being mentioned but nothing has been written down."