Gillingham sack head coach Stephen Clemence after six months in charge at Priestfield – club finished 12th in League 2 and missed top-seven target

Gillingham have made the surprising decision to sack head coach Stephen Clemence after six months in charge.

Clemence joined the Gills as head coach in November, as the permanent replacement for Neil Harris, who was also surprisingly sacked himself when well-placed in League 2.

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The latest bombshell from the Gills comes just two days after the end of the League 2 season, where the team finished 12 place.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on their top-seven target, there was little indication that the club would make a change.

Clemence was looking forward to a summer transfer window and building a side more to his liking. He was eager to return to work today (Monday), as work on transforming the playing side continued, but has instead been told the club will be seeking someone else to lead the team.

Rumours of his departure started to circulate on Monday morning, with both he and assistant boss Robbie Stockdale relieved of their duties.

A month ago chairman Brad Galinson said Clemence would be staying at the Gills, regardless of where they finished, saying at the time: “Culturally and personality-wise they are fantastic, they fit our organisation perfectly and they absolutely have my support, they are very excited, play-offs or no play-offs, to get the first transfer window in the summer to get everything right and I have every expectation that next season we will see us come right out of the gate and continue where they left off.”

Read more: Gills had to decide whether to stick or twist

On Saturday, in his programme notes, Mr Galinson wrote: “The next couple of months are very important to the football club.

“Recruitment needs to be spot on, our pre-season