Five permanent managers have come and gone at Gillingham since Martin Allen led the club back into League 1 - here’s how they’ve have fared.

Allen was sacked in October 2013, 11 games into their return to the third-tier of English football, after winning just two league matches. Since then chairman Paul Scally has been looking for the man to take them to another level.

• More: Who next for Gillingham?

Justin Edinburgh got close and Steve Evans enjoyed his first two seasons before a nightmare third that led to his weekend exit - leaving the club by mutual consent. Former players Ady Pennock and Steve Lovell have had a go and prior to that Peter Taylor returned.

There’s been a few caretaker stints during those years, with Mark Patterson in charge of a couple of games at the end of the 2018/19 season following Lovell’s exit.

Lovell and Patterson were also in the “gang of four” that included Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare prior to Edinburgh’s appointment. Taylor also had a four-game spell inbetween the Pennock and Lovell eras while taking on director of football duties.

All have left the club with the club in the bottom half of League 1.

PETER TAYLOR

October 2013 to December 2014

Placed in temporary charge for his second spell as manager of the Gills following Martin Allen’s sacking and within a month had the job permanently. He was unable to replicate the heroics of the 1999/2000 season, however, when he had led them to play-off glory.

League games in charge: 58 (19 wins)

Win ratio: 33%

First match: Gills 1 Preston 2 (19th)

Last match: Gills 1 Bristol City 3 (19th)

Best finish: 17th (35 games in charge 2013/14)

Top signing: John Egan

JUSTIN EDINBURGH

February 2015 to January 2017

Former boss Andy Hessenthaler helped look for a new manager and Edinburgh’s impressive achievements at Newport convinced Paul Scally that he was the man for the job. He took the Gills to the top of League 1 in 2015/16 before a torrid second half of the season saw them drop out of promotion contention.

League games in charge: 88 (34 wins)

Win ratio: 39%

First match: Peterborough 1 Gills 2 (15th)

Last match: Gills 0 Oxford 1 (17th)

Best finish: 9th (Full season in charge 2015/16)

Top signing: Mark Byrne

ADY PENNOCK

January 2017 to September 2017

Popular former defender Ady Pennock replaced Justin Edinburgh and after a tough first season, which saw the Gills avoid relegation on the last day, he was tasked with making improvements the following season but things never worked out for him.

League games in charge: 30 (5 wins)

Win ratio: 17%

First match: Oldham 1 Gills 0 (17th)

Last match: Rochdale 3 Gills 0 (22nd)

Best finish: 20th (21 games in charge 2016/17)

Top signing: Tom Eaves

STEVE LOVELL

October 2017 to April 2019

Took over from Peter Taylor after his brief stint as caretaker boss and was handed a permanent deal after some impressive performance as a temporary appointment. Enjoys some highs including an FA Cup win over Cardiff City but left two games before the end of the 2018/19 season.

League games in charge: 78 (26 wins)

Win ratio: 33%

First match: Peterborough 0 Gills 1 (22nd)

Last match: Bradford 1 Gills 1 (13th)

Best finish: 13th (44 games in charge 2018/19)

Top signing: Brandon Hanlan

STEVE EVANS

May 2019 to Jan 2022

A controversial appointment as successor to Steve Lovell but won many fans around as the Gills threatened to make the play-offs in his first season and weren’t far off in his second, with a couple of top-10 finishes. Covid issues and injury problems scuppered hopes this term

League games in charge: 105 (34 wins)

Win ratio: 32%

First match: Doncaster 1 Gills 1

Last match: Gills 0 Ipswich 4 (22nd)

Best finish: 10th (full season in charge 2020/21)

Top signing: Kyle Dempsey