RONNIE Jepson has resigned as Gillingham manager after a disastrous start to the season.

The Gills are in the bottom three of Coca-Cola League 1 with just three points from their first five games of the season.

Jepson met with chairman Paul Scally on Sunday morning and offered his resignation.

The 44-year-old was in charge of Gillingham for 86 games, with a record of 31 wins, 39 defeats and 16 draws.

He had been in charge at Priestfield since November 2005 when he took over from Neale Cooper. Jepson first joined the Gills as Stan Ternent's assistant having previously worked with him at Burnley.

Jepson made a number of summer signings but the improvements he had hoped for never came and the pressure has increased on him in recent weeks with supporters venting their frustration during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Southend.