Mark Bonner has been unveiled as the new Gillingham manager.

The Gills had been searching for a new manager after the sacking of Stephen Clemence last Monday (April 29).

Gills chairman Brad Galinson was keen to get his new manager in soon after interviewing potential candidates last week.

Bonner led Cambridge to promotion from League 2 in 2021, and said: “I am delighted to join Gillingham FC and can't wait to get started as manager, as we get to work on preparing for the new season and building a team that supporters enjoy watching and a culture that the players love being part of.

“I have to thank Brad and Shannon (Galinson) for this opportunity and look forward to working closely with them, Joe (Comper), and Kenny (Jackett) to achieve the ambitions of the Football Club.”

Director of Football Kenny Jackett: “I am thrilled to welcome Mark to Gillingham. Mark is a strategist and a thinker. He has proven himself in League 1 and League 2.

“He has a vision and an expertise on getting the most out of his players.

“I look forward to collaborating with Mark during this very important recruiting window. He has a specific way he wants to play and our department will do its best to give him what he needs.”

The first job will be to give the retained list the green light, which has already been put together by the club’s board.

Bonner, 38, was most recently head coach at Cambridge United, where he had first started out in 2002, working in their centre of excellence.

The coach had a brief spell in the academy at Southend before moving back to Cambridge United, working his way up there and into a first-team management role.

He had interim spells in charge before finally taking over as permanent manager and he led them to promotion from League 2 in 2021.

His time at Cambridge United ended in November 2023, when he was sacked as the club sat just four points above the relegation zone. His replacement was Neil Harris, who had been sacked by the Gills.