ALTHOUGH I was never part of the ever-growing brigade that wanted Andy Hessenthaler out, I must admit I felt a sense of relief when the news of his resignation broke on Tuesday.

Saturday’s result at Crewe was embarrassing. It was a game we should never have lost 4-1, but the simple fact is that we were not good enough.

Hess’ decision to go must have been a very hard one, and you have to respect him for being a big enough man to admit that he feels he has taken us as far as he can.

It is pleasing that he’s staying on as a player as Hess is a true Gills legend and we could use his bite in the midfield.

Perhaps without the weight of management on his shoulders, he’ll be a better player too.

But where do we go from here? John Gorman is in charge for the colossal encounter with Nottingham Forest at Priestfield, but I don’t believe he is the man we need to keep us up.

I personally believe Paul Scally has to take a financial risk and pay to get the best available manager in, even if I’m not 100 per cent sure who that man is.

Gary Megson has to apply for the job as part of his severance agreement with West Brom, and I think he, along with Dave Jones and Micky Adams, are the sort of candidates we need to be trying to attract to the role.

Although, if Gorman wants to get on the phone and convince his old mate Glenn Hoddle to take the job, I don’t think there would be too many complaints.

Whoever comes in has a tough task ahead, as illustrated at Crewe.

I actually thought three of our four defenders had very good games, but we were completely swamped in midfield.

I don’t like to criticise individual players, but I genuinely feel that John Robinson and Andrew Crofts bring nothing to the side.

We still need that bit of creativity in the middle of the park, and even though we are managerless at the moment, I still hope that a new midfielder can be among those players for the must-win game against Forest.

If we lose, then the task awaiting our new manager, who is expected to be appointed next week, will be a massive one.

Come on you Gills!