Interim Gillingham boss Keith Millen will be free to manage from the touchline this Saturday after successfully arguing against his misconduct charge.

He was sent off in the game at Walsall for what referee Charles Breakspear deemed was a deliberate trip on home forward Tom Knowles, as he looked to take a throw-in. Millen moved towards the ball but has always been adamant he didn’t touch the player.

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The FA charged him with misconduct and had the disciplinary commission found him guilty, he could have faced a touchline ban and a fine.

Millen might be taking charge of his last home game for the Gills on Saturday, as the club narrow in on a new manager to replace Neil Harris.

Reacting to the news, Millen said: “The commission have decided it was unproven, not guilty as I see it, the end of the case,

“It frees me up to be involved on Saturday against Newport and it is a relief, not so much as what the punishment might have been, but from my own point to clear my name.

“Even though I felt there wasn’t anything to answer for, it still didn’t sit well with me that I had been charged with misconduct, it didn’t sound great. Hopefully the fact I have been cleared puts an end to it.”

The Gills crumbled at Walsall following his dismissal, with the interim manager unable to watch any of the remaining action, forced to sit and listen to commentary from a member of the coaching staff.

Millen described it as possibly the worst 45 minutes of football he’s known, unable to have any control over events on the pitch in the second half.

It was left to goalkeeper coach Deren Ibrahim and youth manager Mark Moss to oversee the rest of the match, as the Gills lost 4-1.

Millen said: “I still feel a little hard done by because the sending off had a big impact in the game. I am not saying we would have won but for 30 minutes at Walsall we were by far the better side. What happened afterward was a disaster on and off the pitch. The whole day was a disaster.

“I am relieved. It was a bit of a long process, it is not completely over yet, but I am pleased I can move on and concentrate on Saturday and working with the team.”

Referees have been told to crack down on numerous offences this season and its led to plenty of cautions, which will lead to suspensions. Defenders Shad Ogie and Scott Malone have recently missed a game after picking up five yellows, while Ethan Coleman and Jonny Williams are currently on four.

Millen said: “In football, there are so many rules now, so many yellow cards that for me are needless, that have an impact on the bigger picture.

“I feel players now are receiving so many yellow cards for minor offences and they miss games.

“The public pay good money to watch the best players and when they are not involved because they are suspended you are dampening down the entertaining and what they are coming for.

“I do think we have to look at whether the punishment fits the crime.”