According to Echo News, Gillingham has not been given the opportunity to speak with head coach Kevin Maher of National League team Southend United
Since Neil Harris left the Priestfield on October 5th, the Gills have been looking for a new manager.
The article claims that Ron Martin, the chairman of the Shrimpers, has declined to meet with Maher regarding the Kent club’s managerial opening.
“The club can confirm that it has refused Gillingham permission to speak with Kevin,” a club representative told the Echo.
“Kevin is doing an amazing job, and the entire club is grateful for his support, which comes from Darren, Mark, and John.”
“They are all an essential part of the journey we are on.”
Maher has spent the last two years at Roots Hall, where he has faced several challenges such as an ongoing transfer ban and a 10-point deduction at the start of the season.
During his playing career, the manager, who was born in Ilford, captained both Gillingham and Southend, leading the latter to two consecutive promotions to League One and the Championship.
After 18 games, the Southerners are six points out of the play-off spots in the National League and now sit in 14th place. They had a winning streak of seven games going into two difficult matches against Altrincham and Chesterfield, who are currently leading the league.
Eighth-placed Gillingham in the League Two standings, they have won twice and lost four times since the 46-year-old Harris was dismissed. Harris had taken the Gills to the top of League Two at the beginning of the season, but the team decided to split apart due to Harris’s lack of goals and attacking ability.
It is clear why Southend United’s chair Ron Martin has turned down Gillingham’s approach: he believes Kevin Maher is the best person to guide the team back to the EFL. Maher’s stability is essential in the short term for the club to return to the fourth tier, as the Shrimpers are about to undergo a takeover. A 47-year-old Essex club hero, don’t expect to see him leaving anytime soon, however if he’s looking for a new challenge, a large opportunity from a formidable League Two team might persuade him.
If Gillingham want to remain in the running for promotion this season, they need to find a manager, and they need to do it quickly. Their hunt for Neil Harris’ replacement has turned into
a nightmare, giving away points to teams they ought to defeat.
Will supporters of the Gills blame this era if it comes down to the narrowest of margins in May and they are forced to play in League Two the following season?
Maher might be the ideal candidate for the position, but it doesn’t appear like he will be leaving Roots Hall anytime soon.
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