PENNOCK TO LINK UP wITh TAyLOr AgAIN

Gillingham

Ady Pennock is delighted to be teaming up with former boss Peter Taylor at Gillingham.

Pennock got approval on Monday to continue as Gills’ head coach by chairman Paul Scally, ending a fortnight of uncertainty at the club.

Taylor – twice a manager of the Gills – returns as director of football to work alongside Pennock, the man who captained his play-off winning side at Wembley.

Head coach Pennock said: “I am happy to have got the job and looking forward to working with Peter.

“He was my manager in 2000 when we got promotion and his experience and contacts are invaluable. I know him, trust him and that is important.”

Pennock, 46, has been working every day at the club since the end of the season, despite his own position being uncertain. Following Mr Scally’s decision to retain his services, he spent this week contacting the out-of-contract players.

He and Taylor will need to decide who of the 12, which includes striker Cody McDonald, deserves a new deal. Many are on holiday, however, meaning the task has been made more complicated.

Pennock is also working on deals for new players. Even before being given the job, he had been putting together a hit-list of potential signings.

He said: “I am looking forward to pre-season but there is a lot of work to be done between now and then.”

The club’s retained list is expected to be released before the weekend.

A decision on Pennock’s backroom coaching team has also yet to be finalised. Taylor was sacked by the Gills on New Year’s Eve 2014. It was a messy exit, after a heated row with the chairman but the pair have since made up and it’s an episode that is now behind them.

“I have apologised since,” said Taylor.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said but there are times in football when you are under a lot of pressure and maybe you are not on top form.”

Since leaving the Gills, Taylor has worked in India and was an assistant manager for the New Zealand national side.

The one-game former England caretaker manager isn’t short of contacts and he’s looking forward to lending a hand.

He said: “It was a tough start for Ady at a football club that he is desperate to do well at. Most people felt for him on that because things didn’t go to plan.

“I am going to be looking at everything and want to be helpful towards Ady.”