RICHARD HILL has became a shock casualty of Gillingham's swingeing cut-backs. The club's first team coach was told a at meeting with chairman Paul Scally yesterday that he had been made redundant.

Hill, stunned by the news, left the club immediately and will not be involved in any of Gillingham's remaining five league games.

He was in his third year at the club but since the start of the season had been working on monthly contracts along with joint first team coach Wayne Jones who survived the axe.

Hill, 39, said: "I'm shocked and hurt by this decision. I was told they had to let me go because of the club's financial situation.

"The chairman told me he didn't like doing it and felt bad about it. Time will tell whether this is a good financial decision."

Explaining his decision to leave immediately, Hill added: "I think it was best for both parties that I made a clean break but I shall write to the club captain Paul Smith thanking him and the rest of the players for all their efforts in my time at the club.

"I should also like to thank the club's supporters. When I first came to the club I thought they were unsure about me but I would like to think that with time I won them over."

The decision to axe Hill followed last week's decision to part company with youth manager Kevin Bremner. Unlike Hill, Bremner will leave the club at the end of the season.