League Two: Club announces managerial change
League Two club Gillingham have appointed John Coleman as manager after sacking Mark Bonner.
The fourth-tier's 14th-placed club announced the change on Sunday evening.
Bonner has paid the price for a spell of poor form which has seen Gillingham drift from the promotion picture.
And the Kent outfit were quick to confirm his replacement with former Accrington Stanley boss Coleman taking charge until the end of the season.
Coleman will be joined by assistant Jimmy Bell at Priestfield.
Gills managing director Joe Comper said: "John brings a wealth of experience to the football club but, having met him, he retains a huge amount of hunger to be successful.
“He knows the league well, he is familiar with our group of players and has even managed a couple of them while with his previous club.
“We still have high hopes and a real belief that the season can end on a high with a good second-half of the campaign, and I'm confident John and Jimmy are the people to make that happen.”
Gillingham, who defeated Carlisle 4-1 on the opening day, have faded after a good start to the season (Image: Richard Parkes)
Bonner, the former Cambridge United boss, was appointed by Gillingham last May but now departs, along with No2 Anthony Hayes, after just 28 games in charge.
The Kent outfit lost their last three games ahead of Sunday's weather-enforced postponement at Chesterfield. Coleman's first game in charge will be at home to Fleetwood Town next Saturday.
“Mark is a top guy, a top professional and has given absolutely everything he could have given to help the club succeed," Comper told the club website.
“We liked him from the moment we met him, and we still do, which makes this decision even tougher.
“The staff have thoroughly enjoyed working with him, however, we felt if we were going to achieve something this season with what we believe to be a very talented group of players, we needed to make a change to give us the best possible opportunity of getting to where we want to be come the start of May."
Bonner's Gillingham defeated Carlisle United 4-1 on the opening day of the season at Priestfield. They take on the Blues at Brunton Park on Saturday, February 22.
