Peter Taylor hopes the negativity he encountered at Priestfield isn’t repeated when the new manager is appointed.

Taylor led the club to promotion in 2000 but felt that there were sections of the Gills crowd who were against him from day one, after he replaced Martin Allen as manager in October 2013.

He was sacked by Gills chairman Paul Scally with the club sitting two points and one place outside the League 1 drop-zone.

Taylor said: “Unfortunately, ever since I had been there, which I still can’t 100% work out, there had been negativity to me, from too many sections.

“Everyone has their own opinions, there are people you like, people you don’t like but it is obvious that certain people don’t like me. In that respect, it is not good for a young squad.

“I hope that whoever they appoint, there is more positivity around, because it (negativity) is not good for the team.”

Taylor put together a young team in the summer.

He spoke to them briefly on the day of his sacking and since then former two-time boss and ex-player Andy Hessenthaler has been preparing the team for Saturday’s match at Port Vale.

Taylor brought Hessenthaler back to the Gills, as his no.2, and feels the club are in safe hands.

“Hessy is a Gillingham man and he will be disappointed with the outcome because I am the one who has brought him back,” said Taylor.

“He will put his heart and soul into whatever he does that is connected with Gillingham.”

Taylor left unhappy with several comments from the Gills chairman, particularly one in which he spoke about his desire to bring in a “younger, more flamboyant manager.”

“I think that is a little bit of a dig,” he said.

"I thought Paul had more class than that.

“I might be 61, close to 62, but I am still fit enough to be a manager or a coach somewhere, so I haven’t lost my enthusiasm to be involved with football.

“I think I can be involved and do a good job somewhere.”

The search for his successor is now ongoing with former Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates rumoured to be among the potential candidates for the job.

*Former Gills boss Tony Pulis is back in management after taking over at Premier League West Brom.