Gillingham announce former Accrington and Rochdale boss John Coleman as their new manager after Mark Bonner’s sacking

Gillingham have named their new manager following the sacking of Mark Bonner.

John Coleman, the former Accrington and Rochdale boss, has been appointed as first-team boss until the end of the season.

Coleman, 62, will be assisted by long-term no.2 Jimmy Bell.

The pair will take charge for the first time on Saturday when the Gills host Fleetwood Town.

It’s a change of direction for the Gills under the Galinsons, who have gone from the experience of Neil Harris, to the untried Stephen Clemence and most recently Bonner, who was sacked on Sunday.

Managing director Joe Comper, said: “I am delighted that John and Jimmy have agreed to join us. John brings a wealth of experience to the football club but, having met him, he retains a huge amount of hunger to be successful.

“He knows the league well, he is familiar with our group of players and has even managed a couple of them while with his previous club.

“We still have high hopes and a real belief that the season can end on a high with a good second-half of the campaign and I'm confident John and Jimmy are the people to make that happen.”

Mark Bonner’s been sacked with Gillingham’s managing director saying the club “needed to make a change to give us the best possible opportunity of getting to where we want to be come the start of May.”#gills #gfc https://t.co/JickizZrCN

Coleman was a prolific non-league striker as a player and appeared for the England semi-professional national team.

He had two spells as Accrington manager, starting out with them in the Northern Premier League and leading them to three promotions and into the Football League in 2006.

Coleman and Bell moved to Rochdale for a season and also had spells at Southport and Sligo Rangers before returning to