PLENTY SUITORS FOR THE GILLS – TAYLOR
GILLINGHAM’S caretaker boss Peter Taylor insists there are no shortage of candidates for the top job after Ady Pennock’s departure.
The Gills have struggled in the first two months of the season and won just once in their opening ten games.
But Taylor is confident there is a long list of names ready to take up the top job despite the club being in the relegation zone
“I am sure the chairman has been inundated with emails or texts from agents and their representatives of potential managers,” Taylor said.
“It will take a certain type, a type that knows players for this level, because there is no point coming here thinking you are going to play like Barcelona – that won’t be the case, it’s unrealistic. It is a right battle from now through to December before you can then sign players and that is the job in hand.”
The club will implement the Rooney Rule as part of their managerial appointment proceedings.
The rule, set up by NFL side the Pittsburgh Steelers’ former chairman Dan Rooney in 2003, aims to increase the number of ethnic minorities in coaching and senior operations.
Gillingham, as well as 72 other clubs have signed up to the scheme, requiring them to interview at least one qualified black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) candidate.
Cambridge boss Shaun Derry has been earmarked as the front runner with Nolberto Solano and Chris Powell all potential options.
Derry’s contract is up next summer and admitted last month he has not started negotiations over extending his stay.
He said: “I’ve not started any negotiations [with a new contract] none whatsoever. That’s out of my hands. All I can concentrate on is Saturdays and Tuesday nights, and I think I do that really well.”