Scott Wagstaff has joined Gillingham as their new under-18 manager but isn’t hanging up his playing boots yet.
The 35-year-old takes on the role vacated by Joe Dunne but will continue playing this season for National South side Tonbridge Angels, where he is club captain.
Wagstaff’s appointment follows Dunne’s departure after 18 months in charge of the Gillingham youth team, with the former boss returning to Colchester United.
“I am really excited,” Wagstaff told the Gills. “It’s a massive club. I played here and the fan base is excellent.
“For me, I think this was definitely the right move at the right time. I can’t wait to get stuck into it now.”
He added: “Everything just felt right. It’s a great opportunity to go into a big club with category three status and heading up their under-18 coaching set-up feels very much like the start of my coaching journey.
“I am still contracted to Angels and will continue to give everything to the shirt. The club has been excellent to me since they knew.
“Sophie [Purves, the Tonbridge chair] and the directors have all been so supportive and of course the gaffer [Alan Dunne] has been brilliant too and understands why I am taking this role.
“Angels fans have always been excellent with me from the moment I arrived and the club means a lot to me and I think they can see that every time I pull on the shirt.”
Maidstone-born midfielder Wagstaff started his career at Charlton Athletic and spent three seasons at Bristol City before moving to The Gills.
Two years at Gillingham was followed by spells at AFC Wimbledon, Forest Green Rovers, Aldershot Town and Bromley, moving to Tonbridge Angels midway through the 2022/23 season.
He was caretaker manager of the club for a short period.
Gillingham are playing Tonbridge in the quarter-final of the Kent Senior Cup tonight (Tuesday).
