Justin Edinburgh hopes to have his new assistant in place by Monday.

The Gills boss has been in talks with two potential candidates to fill the no.2 role at Priestfield.

He is also interviewing for a new goalkeeper coach.

“With the no.2 and the goalkeeper coach hopefully it will be concluded on Monday,” he said.

Edinburgh was left without an assistant following Andy Hessenthaler’s decision to join Leyton Orient, a decision that disappointed the Gills manager.

He said: “I said when Hess left I didn’t want him to go, I made that quite clear, to Andy.

“I was disappointed that he did go but I understood his reasons.

“I have people here alongside me, in Mark Patterson (development manager) and Steve Lovell (first team coach), who are more than able to step up and they have done so.

“If it takes longer than Monday I know I have the support of them.”

Edinburgh was due to meet chairman Paul Scally on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the assistant manager role, among other things.

Those rumoured to be in the frame include former Gills midfielder Michael Flynn and Wayne Hatswell, two young coaches who worked under Edinburgh at former club Newport.

He said: “It is an important position, an important role but I will be sitting down with the chairman and I am hopeful by the time Monday comes around we should have some news.

“Earlier in the week I said I had two candidates for the role and we will see where that goes.

“Both want the job; that goes without saying. I have a one and a two, in terms of number one candidate and number two. It is a case of seeing what we can get over the line.”

A new goalkeeper coach will also be arriving soon.

“It is another area we are filling and I am speaking to candidates for that,” the manager confirmed.