Former Newcastle, Sunderland and Aston Villa man takes on management role with EFL club

A former Newcastle United, Sunderland and Aston Villa man has been named the new head coach of Gillingham and will replace former manager Neil Harris in the dugout at Priestfield Stadium.

The Kent based outfit were heavily linked with a move for former Magpies boss Steve Bruce but have instead opted to appoint his long time assistant Stephen Clemence.

Clemence worked as head coach of Newcastle between 2019 and 2021 and formed part of the coaching staff at the club for over 100 games.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City midfielder’s most recent role as a coach saw him again follow Bruce to West Brom but the pair departed after eight months due to a poor run of form.

Clemence has amassed over 13 years of experience as a coach in his career but is now taking on his first gig in management with Gillingham. He inherits a team that are eighth in League 2 with 25 points from their opening 16 matches.

The Gills were taken over by Florida based businessman Brad Galinson in December last year and the American has set out his aspirations to win promotion back to the third-tier.

Galinson added during an interview with BBC South East that the new boss needs to fit four pieces of criteria - putting the players first, having a personality to fit in, playing brave front-footed and entertaining football and working hard.

Ex-Wolves boss Kenny Jackett, Gillingham’s director of football led the search for Harris’s successor, whilst working closely with former chairman Paul Scally.

Former Manchester United captain Bruce is said to have recommended Clemence to his old club, according to BBC Sport.

Clemence will take charge of Gillingham training for the first time on Thursday 2 November, where he will be joined by new assistant coach Robbie Stockdale.

The 45-year-old will take charge of his first game in management on Saturday when he takes on Hereford in the FA Cup first round.

His first taste of Football League action takes place on Saturday 11 November in a challenging away clash against third place Wrexham.