Brighton & Hove Albion assistant manager Nathan Jones is the new bookies favourite to take over at Gillingham.

The 41-year-old coach has worked his way up from managing the ladies at Yeovil to being no.2 at the Championship club.

Jones was briefly in charge of Brighton, on a caretaker basis following Sami Hyypia’s departure, leading the club to a win and a draw during his brief tenure.

Gills chairman Paul Scally has described his next managerial appointment as “crucial” and the new man will have the task of saving the Gills from relegation to League 2.

The chairman won’t, however, be rushed into a decision.

“For me this appointment is critical, we must not rush the process, nor be panicked into a hasty decision,” he said.

“All views will be taken into account and indeed any constructive views from our supporters will be considered.

“There is no quick fix to an appointment given interviews and potential discussions with other clubs may be required.”

Former boss Andy Hessenthaler, who is helping oversee the management, has already ruled himself out.

Former Priestfield favourite Ady Pennock’s current club Forest Green Rovers attempted to silence the rumours linking him with the job by issuing a statement.

Former Gills coach Mark Robson could be another interested in the role, having previously put himself forward for the job.

Robson, whose most recent coaching role was at Norwich City, was at Priestfield on Tuesday night watching from the stands, as the Gills lost to Bristol City in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area final first leg.

He has coached at Priestfield under former boss Mark Stimson and took the job as no.2 under Andy Hessenthaler, before leaving weeks later, citing personal reasons.

Macclesfield Town manager John Askey was in the crowd for Gills’ game at Port Vale last Saturday but his own personal business commitments in the north look like ruling him out.

For now, Mr Scally is confident in the four-man team he has at the helm.

Gillingham are being managed by Hessenthaler, under-18 manager Steve Lovell, development boss Mark Patterson and academy manager Darren Hare.

He said, in his programme notes on Tuesday night: “I have asked the team to work together, to continue with the coaching and to prepare the team for each game until a replacement for the manager’s job is determined.

“I intend to involve all four coaches in the process and we will debate each candidate insofar as strengths and weaknesses are concerned.

“They are a very experienced group of individuals (and) are very capable of holding the fort in the short term.”