Former Gillingham manager Steve Lovell says Neil Harris is doing a marvellous job at Priestfield.

Lovell had four games in caretaker charge before Harris was appointed successor to Steve Evans at the end of January.

The Gills were 10 points from safety in League 1 when the former Millwall and Cardiff boss boss took the reins and in big trouble.

But a run of 19 points from 14 matches, including five wins, means it’s only goal difference keeping them in the bottom four.

They were even out of the relegation zone at one stage and Lovell, who managed the club between 2017 and 2019, has heaped praise on Harris.

“I think Neil Harris has done a marvellous job,” said Lovell, who recently returned to management with Ramsgate.

“It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that from first-hand experience, it was hard to pick the boys up, but we did it, even if results went against us.

“Neil has gone in there and steadied the ship very well, he’s got them defensively very sound and he’s getting points, which is a tremendous achievement.

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“I’ve known Paul Scally a long time, he’s picked managers in the past and it’s a tough job for the chairman to know the right thing to do.

“I’ve been involved in that process with him of selecting a manager to come in, and it is difficult, but I think this one is a really good appointment and it’s proving that with the results.

“I hope for the chairman’s sake, and the club and the fans and the players, that they can stay up and make it a really good end to the season.”

Lovell sees an opportunity for Gillingham to kick on under Harris if they stay up this season.

For while there are plenty of big-name clubs in League 1, he doesn’t see a gulf in class on the pitch.

Lovell said: “Name-wise there’s a lot of big clubs in there but looking at the games, a lot of the players who were at those clubs have moved on to Championship and Premier League clubs from when I was managing Gillingham the first time.

“Are the players coming in to replace them as good? I’m not sure they are.

“There are a lot of big-name clubs but I think League 1 is pretty much an even keel, anybody can beat anybody. I feel there’s not really a stand-out candidate in League 1 now.

“If Gillingham can stay up this year, with Neil at the helm I think they could have a really good go at it next year.

“He’ll have an idea on the players he needs to bring in, he’s done it in the past with Millwall and Cardiff, he’ll know where he needs to strengthen and with his experience and David Livermore alongside him, I can see them doing well.”

Lovell was also pleased to see Gillingham appoint a much-needed head of recruitment in former Reading and Aston Villa defender Nicky Shorey.

It was something Harris pushed for and Scally delivered.

“A head of recruitment is massive,” said Lovell.

“It’s the most important job at the football club apart from managing the team.

“You’ve got someone finding players for you when you need them, and that’s massive.

“We had to do that ourselves when we were there, Neil’s highlighted that and fair play to the chairman, he’s gone, ‘right, this needs to be done’ and it’s a great move to get a head of recruitment in.

“Going forward, you’ve got someone there to look at players, make sure they’re available or at least have names the manager can look at.”