Gillingham part company with manager Steve Lovell

GILLINGHAM have parted company with their manager Steve Lovell after nearly 18 months in charge of the club.

The Gills are in thirteenth-place in the Sky Bet League One table, having banked 52 points from their 44 league outings.

Lovell, 58, departed National League side Bromley, where he was assistant manager to Neil Smith, to take charge at Priestfield Stadium in November 2017.

“After a discussion between the chairman and manager this afternoon, the club can confirm that Steve Lovell has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect,” said a club statement, which was published on www.gillinghamfootballclub.com.

“Mark Patterson will take responsibility for the game against Charlton Athletic tomorrow and Blackpool next week.

“The club would like to thank Steve for his efforts with the team over the past 18 months and wish him well for the future.”

Former Wales international Lovell won 32 of his 92 games in charge and guided the club to seventeenth-place last season and had a year remaining on his contract.

Visit Gillingham’s website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com