Justin Edinburgh could be the man to replace Peter Taylor but what can fans expect of the new man?

Tactics

Gills may be going back to 5-3-2 and the wing-back system under Edinburgh if he proves to be the new manager. It’s a system that has brought Newport County great success during the last three and a bit years. While previous manager Peter Taylor was criticised for being defensive, Edinburgh’s style is a bit more adventurous.

Home life

Justin - son of a pub landlord - started as a trainee at Southend, having previously played Sunday football for Beech United. He remains based in Essex, with wife Kerri, often making a 400-mile round trip. For his players though it’s a different story as they all live local.

Heroes

Terry Venables is a man Justin regards as a big influence on his career. He was the manager who took Edinburgh to Tottenham in 1990 for a fee of £150,000. He went onto make over 200 appearances for the club.

Qualifications

Justin is currently taking his Pro Licence in Newport having already acquired his UEFA A and B qualifications.

Honours

He won the FA Cup with Tottenham in 1991, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1. Team-mates that day included Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Mabbutt. He also won a League Cup winner’s medal in 1999, despite being sent-off, following a coming together with Robbie Savage.

Strikers

Edinburgh’s Newport side isn’t short of strikers and he’s got seven on the books at his current club. Former Gills loanee Rene Howe is one of the forwards at the League 2 side while former Wycombe and Torquay forward Chris Zebroski has seven league goals to his name this season.

Retirement

After a career at the top level of English football, Edinburgh ended his playing career with Billericay Town, joining them as a player-coach after leaving Portsmouth in 2003.

Hair

While manager of Rushden, Justin was also the boss of two Toni & Guy hair salons in Essex. In 2008 he was the new face of Nourkrin Man, a natural hair nutrition programme, for the prevention of thinning hair.

Portsmouth

Justin was approached by Portsmouth a year ago, to manage them, but turned a potential move down, saying it was “an easy decision” to stay with Newport. County were just three points behind leaders Oxford in League 2 at the time.

Rushden & Diamonds

Justin led Rushden to the Conference play-off semi-finals on a limited budget. The club folded in 2011 and it left Edinburgh jobless.