GILLINGHAM have released caretaker manager Mick Docherty following Saturday's 5-0 defeat at Swindon.

Docherty had been working as stand-in manager alongside Iffy Onuora since the departure of Ronnie Jepson last month.

Gills chairman Paul Scally said: "It was a tough call letting him go.

"I've made the decision in the best interests of our football club and I'm getting ever closer to naming our new manager."

Docherty joined the Gills in November 2005, initially on a consultancy basis, before being made permanent assistant to Jepson.