Paul Scally insists he won’t rush into appointing a new manager at Gillingham.

Speaking on Monday morning, the Gills chairman said: “There is no desperate necessity to make a move this week.

“I have asked John Schofield to take training today (Monday) and I am working on a number of other options as well. I will be back with news as soon as I get my head around what I want to do.”

Gillingham’s training ground has been closed to fans this week, as Mr Scally looks for a new manager.

Peter Taylor has been tipped for the job by many but Mr Scally insisted he was open to options.

He said: “Anyone would be a candidate now and everyone is entitled to apply for the role.

“I haven’t spoken to Peter Taylor about it but everyone is a candidate.

“This is not a new process. We have all been here before and know how it works. People’s names will get banded about.

“It’s a massive task now to try and find another manager and it is a time-consuming task and not a job I am relishing.

"I don’t have any front-runners and any candidates in mind. I don’t have anyone I have spoken to ready to come in. It is a difficult process.

“We will see where today and tomorrow bring us. I have some other ideas and just have to explore those.”

Asked to clarify if anyone had already been primed for the position, he said: “No, not at all.”

Schofield has had management experience before at Lincoln City, Walsall and Cheltenham.

He took over the reigns at Cheltenham following Martin Allen’s departure there.

Mr Scally said: “We have a game on Saturday and John Schofield is capable of running the team until Saturday, or longer.”

The Gills face two home games in four days, with the visit of Preston North End on Saturday being followed by a visit from Notts County on Tuesday night.

If Mr Scally’s search is prolonged and Schofield gets results, he could be in the frame, with Scally saying, “Of course, it has happened before hasn’t it?”