Gillingham Football Club is making headlines after they announced the dismissal of manager Stephen Clemence, who leaves the team after a brief five-month tenure with the new next manager odds now out
The 46-year-old former Tottenham, Birmingham, and Leicester player had taken charge of the Gills in November, leading them to a 12th-place finish in League Two this season, missing out on the playoffs by six points.
Gillingham new next manager odds and favorites candidates names list
John Percy first broke the news, commenting, “Expecting a lot of manager changes this summer (again). Lower-league clubs are on it already. Gillingham sacked Stephen Clemence and his assistant Robbie Stockdale earlier today.”
This caught fans off guard, as the club had recently released statements suggesting that Clemence was looking ahead to next season. Clemence was the 3rd manager to lead the Kent-based club this season, taking over from Keith Millen, who had been serving as interim manager following Neil Harris’s departure.
Now, Gillingham must search for their 4th manager in just one season. The decision to sack Clemence has angered Gillingham supporters, with many drawing comparisons to Watford, a club notorious for its rapid turnover of managers, having had 10 different bosses in just four years.
Gillingham Football Club Released Statement
A statement from the Gillingham Football Club read that the club “has announced that it has parted ways with Head Coach Stephen Clemence. Clemence, who joined the club in November 2023, worked hard to push the team toward the upper end of the table, but despite improvements in performance and playing style, the results didn’t meet the club’s expectations.”
The statement further adds, “Consequently, the Board has decided that a change in leadership is needed to boost the club’s chances of securing promotion in the next season.
“Assistant Head Coach Robbie Stockdale will also be leaving the club.” In addition, the managing director Joe Comper commented, “Stephen and Robbie are outstanding individuals and good people.
Meanwhile, the director of Football, Kenny Jackett, added, “We are beginning the search for Stephen and Robbie’s successors.”
Gillingham FC season review 2023/24 pic.twitter.com/j2noDFODuz
— Ben 🇬🇧 (@horne1995) April 24, 2024
Odds for Gillingham Football Club’s New Manager
Gareth Ainsworth at 4/1
Michael Duff at 5/1
Steve Bruce at 5/1
Scott Lindsey at 6/1
Pete Wild at 10/1
Andy Woodman at 12/1
Lee Johnson at 12/1
Mark Bonner at 12/1
Paul Heckingbottom at 12/1
For the unfamiliar, Clemence managed Gillingham in 34 matches across various competitions, achieving 12 wins and 13 losses during his brief tenure.
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