Wednesday 4 January 2017 20:35, UK
Former defender Adrian Pennock has been appointed Gillingham head coach until the end of the season.
The 45-year-old has previously managed non-League sides Welling United and Forest Green Rovers and takes over from Justin Edinburgh, who was sacked on Tuesday following Gillingham's 1-0 loss to Oxford United.
Pennock, who spent two seasons as a coach under Tony Pulis during the Welshman's time at Stoke, will be assisted by Steve Lovell and Jamie Day who have been appointed first-team coaches at the Priestfield Stadium.
"I am convinced they will enhance the performances of the first-team squad going forward," Gillingham chairman Paul Scally told the club's official website.
"The current squad is the most expensive in the history of Gillingham Football Club, it has enormous potential and is capable of achieving great success over the remainder of the season and beyond.
"I fully appreciate this has been a difficult few days for supporters. However, based on the playing performance over the previous calendar year, that of 14 wins out of 48 league games, and only eight victories from 25 matches this season, I felt a change was necessary to ensure that the club achieves the best possible position it can after the final 21 fixtures of this campaign."
Former Tottenham left-back Edinburgh succeeded Peter Taylor as Gillingham boss in February 2015 and helped the club avoid relegation before leading them to a ninth-place finish last season.
Gillingham are currently 17th in the Sky Bet League One table and have claimed just one victory in their last five matches.
