Ex-Gillingham manager Steve Lovell hails Neil Harris' impact at Priestfield

Former Gillingham manager Steve Lovell says Neil Harris is doing a marvellous job at Priestfield.

Lovell had four games in caretaker charge before Harris was appointed successor to Steve Evans at the end of January.

The Gills were 10 points from safety in League 1 when the former Millwall and Cardiff boss boss took the reins and in big trouble.

But a run of 19 points from 14 matches, including five wins, means it’s only goal difference keeping them in the bottom four.

They were even out of the relegation zone at one stage and Lovell, who managed the club between 2017 and 2019, has heaped praise on Harris.

“I think Neil Harris has done a marvellous job,” said Lovell, who recently returned to management with Ramsgate.

“It wasn’t easy, I can tell you that from first-hand experience, it was hard to pick the boys up, but we did it, even if results went against us.

“Neil has gone in there and steadied the ship very well, he’s got them defensively very sound and he’s getting points, which is a tremendous achievement.

“I’ve known Paul Scally a long time, he’s picked managers in the past and it’s a tough job for the chairman to know the right thing to do.

“I’ve been involved in that process with him of selecting a manager to come in, and it is difficult, but I think this one is a really good appointment and it’s proving that with the results.

“I hope for the chairman’s sake, and the club and the fans and the players, that they can stay up and make it a really good end to the season.”

Lovell sees an opportunity for Gillingham to kick on under Harris if they stay up this season.

For while there are plenty of big-name clubs in League 1, he doesn’t see a gulf in class on the pitch.

Lovell said: “Name-wise there’s a lot of big clubs