Gillingham terminate Steve Evans' contract after extending winless run to 13 games

GILLINGHAM have confirmed that the contract of manager Steve Evans has been terminated by mutual consent with immediate effect.

 

The Gills suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town at Priestfield yesterday, a result that leaves the Kent side in the bottom three in the EFL League One table with 18 points from 24 games.

Gillingham are a couple of points clear of bottom side Doncaster Rovers and eight points adrift of safety, taking goal-difference into account.

“The club wishes to thank Steve for all his efforts over the past two years in circumstances that have been significantly more difficult and challenging due to the Covid pandemic and wishes him well in the future,” said a club statement.

“His assistant, Paul Raynor, will also be leaving the club.

“The search for a new head coach/manager will begin immediately.”

Gillingham extended their winless run to 13 games in all competitions yesterday, before announcing Evans’ departure.

The Scottish-born boss, 59, replaced Welshman Steve Lovell in 2019 and guided the Gills to a couple of tenth-placed finishes in his first couple of seasons here in Kent.

The club confirmed, a day later, that chairman Paul Scally met with senior members of staff and a number of senior players on Monday morning before addressing the entire squad to discuss the week ahead.

The club statement added: "There, it was unanimously agreed that the chairman should try and bring someone in to help on a short-term basis, to run the game (at home to Burton Albion) on Saturday, and everyone was happy for Steve Lovell to come in and offer his support.

"He met the team at the training ground and he will assist as much as he can while a permanent replacement is found.

"Steve will be assisted by Alex MacDonald; they will prepare the team ahead of Saturday's visit of Burton Albion."