Youth-team boss Joe Dunne’s Gillingham return certainly has the seal of approval of manager Mark Bonner.

Former player Dunne rejoined last week to replace Mark Moss, who has left for Swindon.

While 51-year-old Dunne, also an ex-Dover player, as well as a defender at Gillingham from his playing days, is well-known to fans, he has also previously spent plenty of time working with Bonner.

“We worked together at Cambridge,” explained Bonner.

“He was assistant manager to Shaun Derry and I was sort of under-21s and first-team coach - and Academy manager - so doing a few different roles. When Shaun left, Joe was interim manager and I was assistant to him.

“Joe got the job and I was assistant manager to him as head coach and, when Joe left, Colin Calderwood came in and I was assistant manager to Colin.

“All in all, we worked together for a fair bit of time there in a few different positions and, obviously, I know him well.

“I’ve kept in touch with him and Graham Coughlan, who I know well from Southend. They had worked together previously at Newport and a few other places.

“Obviously, Joe is known to supporters because he played here so it’s quite a nice link. Football is just a bit of a mad world, he’s in the role of youth coach and I’m doing this job, and it’s just really strange.

“What I know is we have got a really good coach. Joe is very experienced and the boys are lucky to have him.

“He will really help that group of players, which is great.”

Dunne’s first match in charge of Gillingham’s under-18s was an eventful one as their interest in the FA Youth Cup ended on Tuesday – when they finished their second-round tie with just nine men - in a 2-1 home defeat to Swindon.

Joe Orpwood scored but was also dismissed for the Gills while Jonah Walker was red-carded, as well.

Asked if they had been unlucky to lose, Bonner replied: “Maybe.

“It doesn’t help if you only have nine players - that makes it really difficult to win - but they played well. It was a good game against a good team.

“I quite enjoyed it. It was entertaining and, being down to nine for a long time, to keep it to 2-1, that was absolutely brilliant. Really, they were under not a lot of threat and had a brilliant chance at the end where the Swindon goalie has made a great save.

“They almost took it to extra-time… I’m not sure how that would have looked. Another 30 minutes of 11 versus nine could have been really tough!

“But they have put in some good performances and certainly some individuals have done well.”