Chairman Brad Galinson hopes a new management team can bring the spark needed to get Gillingham’s promotion challenge back on track.
Mr Galinson has commented on the departure of former manager Mark Bonner and the appointment of John Coleman as his replacement, writing in the Gills programme ahead of their game with Doncaster Rovers.
The US-based businessman has said how hard the decision was to let Bonner go but results – particularly at home – led to a change at the halfway stage of the season and at the start of the January transfer window.
Coleman is the Galinson’s fourth manager in two years after already sacking Neil Harris, Stephen Clemence and now Bonner.
Mr Galinson wrote: “I would like to place on record how much I respect Mack Bonner.
“He is a man of great integrity and decency who is possessed of all qualities that we wanted as a first-team manager.
“I cannot speak highly enough of him and his absolute dedication to the role.
“Unfortunately, the last few weeks of results and performances have been disheartening.
“As much as we desperately wanted to see Mark and Anthony Hayes (his assistant) succeed as part of our long-term strategy, we felt a change was required to give us the best possible chance of achieving what we want this season.
“If was an incredibly difficult decision, but we simply couldn’t ignore the fact that, when the decision was made, we were bottom of the form table over the last 15 fixtures in our division (accumulating just 11 points).
“The concern was only magnified, considering the teams we have lost to at home in this period.
“I’d like to wish Mark and Anthony the very best for the future and I thank them for their tireless efforts.
“Having decided to make a change, we needed to move quickly to find a replacement.
“We had a number of conversations in a very short space of time.
“Having been introduced to John Coleman, we were intrigued by his management style and the way he had consistent;y overachieved with the resources available to him.
“We felt his experience and his knowledge of the level would ignite a spark at this stage of the season, bring us closer to the play-off places and help us get past a year and a half of setbacks.
“John brings with him his long-serving assistant Jimmy Bell. I am truly looking forward to seeing what they can implement along with the help of Pete Gill and Deren Ibrahim, who I am really pleased to say will be staying on.”
