Gillingham have sacked manager Peter Taylor on New Year's Eve.

The Gills are one place and two points above the relegation zone in League 1 despite a summer overhaul of the playing squad at Priestfield.

Speaking today, Gills chairman Paul Scally would only say: "He has taken us as far as we can go at the moment and I feel it is time for a change.

"I don't have anyone in particular in mind at the moment but there's lots of people I would like to talk to."

A club statement from the Gills said: "Peter Taylor has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

"The Chairman has asked the coaching staff to assist Andy Hessenthaler with this weekend's game against Port Vale."

Read Peter Taylor's reaction to being sacked here.

It means Andy Hessenthaler, who has had two previous spells in charge of the team, starts his third tenure. However, how long that will be for this time around is currently unknown.

Taylor was appointed manager of Gillingham in October last year after taking over from Martin Allen, who was sacked with the club in the lower reaches of League 1 following their title-winning season the previous campaign.

During his second spell in charge, Taylor had previously led the Gills in the 1999/2000 season, Taylor was at the helm for 67 games. He won just 23 matches, drew 14 and lost 30 times.

Among those defeats was his last match in charge - a 3-1 home reverse to league leaders Bristol City on Sunday at Priestfield. It was a match watched by chairman Paul Scally from the stands and he clearly felt enough was enough.

Only a week ago, Mr Scally told Luke Cawdell that Peter Taylor was the right man for the job.

He said: "I am reasonably happy. It was always going to be difficult when you are trying to bring a lot of new players in and changing things around.

“I would have liked more points on the board after the first 10 games but, apart from the home game against Scunthorpe, the team has performed quite well.

“Had games like Swindon and Port Vale gone for us a bit better then we would have another four or five points on the board.

“I don’t think our position in the table reflects the way we have played but I also accept that nobody has a divine right to be anywhere.”

Read that interview here.