Gillingham could be getting some help with their scouting from a couple of former managers.

Andy Hessenthaler and Peter Taylor have both offered their services, as has former assistant manager Ian Hendon.

The Gills’ budget has been stretched with the sacking of Justin Edinburgh and his managerial team, who will still need paying until the summer.

It means the Gills, who have just taken on a new four-man coaching team, are only too happy to accept any assistance that is offered.

Mr Scally said: “He (Hessenthaler) is prepared to do some scouting for us, as is Peter Taylor, as is Ian Hendon, who are all friends of mine.”

Eyebrows might be raised at the fact Mr Scally and former boss Taylor are still friends after the way they parted company two years ago. Taylor was sacked during a heated phone exchange.

But it’s water under the bridge for the Gills chairman.

He said: “When certain managers get under pressure they say and do things that are inconsistent and Justin has probably done the same but I am sure we will stay friends, ultimately.

“I understand the pressures these guys get put under and sometimes it turns their mind. They say things they probably don’t mean.

“We (Taylor and I) are still friends and we have met a couple of times since then. I saw him at Millwall recently and he gave me a nice hug. We are good friends.

“These are people that care about the football club and once you are friends like that in football you stay friends. You might have differences of opinion and you might have a bust up from time to time but it is only handbags, it is nothing serious.

“If you take things personally in football you can’t do your job. These people want to help the club. We can’t take them all on but they will help us and give us tips as and when they can.”

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Hessenthaler was tipped for a director of football position in the new set-up but Mr Scally insists there will be no return for the former player and manager this time.

He said: “Andy is a friend of mine, he has been for 20 years, he comes and watches his son and as a friend I talk to him about things.

“He is doing what he is doing. I talked to him about my concerns and bounced things off him, which is what friends do, but in so far as him coming back, at this moment, there is no plan for that.”