Peter Taylor has decided to quit Gillingham with immediate effect.

He had been in charge of team affairs since Ady Pennock left the club by mutual consent last month.

Taylor returned to the Gills as director of football in the summer but has been caretaker manager while the club look for a new permanent boss.

Reaction: Peter Taylor speaks exclusively about his Gills departure

Taylor initially came in to assist inexperienced manager Pennock, but with chairman Paul Scally looking at more experienced managers for the future, he feels his input will not be required as much.

He took charge of Gills’ last four games but their only win came in the Checkatrade Trophy.

It was his third time as manager of the club, having led them to promotion in 2000, before returning to take charge following Martin Allen’s sacking.

Allen is now understood to be interested in a return, to help save the club from relegation.

The Gills are second bottom in League 1, winning just one of their first 12 games and failing to score in their last four.

Steve Evans, the Mansfield Town boss, and Cambridge manager Shaun Derry are also on the club’s radar, while former Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen has been backed in recent days to take over.

Fitness coach Neil Withington has also left, leaving the Gills with a threadbare coaching staff ahead of their weekend trip to Peterborough.

Coach Steve Lovell is being helped by youth manager Mark Patterson.