Get us up or out; no pressure then Andy
Former Gills player and boss Andy Hessenthaler will start at the club Monday morning having quit his job as manager of Blue Square South Dover Athletic last Thursday.
Having played over 300 games for the club he was previously in charge when the club was last in the Championship between 2000 and 2004.
In recent seasons Hessenthaler has managed Dover Athletic to successive promotions, only just missing out on the play-offs for promotion to the Blue Square Conference in 2010/11.
Gills chairman Paul Scally made what he expects from his new manager very clear!
Scally told BBC Radio: "He buys into the package that anything less than promotion is failure. We'll be aiming for top three and we want everyone to buy into that concept. Anything less than promotion back to league one will be disappointing."
Good luck mate!
Mark Robson, who coached under Stimson, is promoted to assistant manager and along with Hessenthaler will have to decide if any of the now 13 out-of-contract players will be offered new terms.
This includes former Shrimpers Simon Royce, Garry Richards, Mark Bentley and James Walker.
Scally continued: "I spoke to Andy on Thursday afternoon and as a result of that conversation I asked him to come out to Dubai straight away which he did. It all happened very quickly. I got him onto a late flight with Mark Robson. We spoke for about four or five hours and we made the appointment. They're absolutely right for the football club."
The appointment has been well received by the Gills faithful with the following messages on www.kentonline.co.uk, some more excited than others!
johnny b wrote:
Fandabbydozzy, Gills thrills straight back up with Hess, absolutlybloodymarvolus.
Charlie wrote:
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Just renewed season ticket and am feeling really optimistic about next season - can't wait. UTG!!!!
And the more reaslistic Tony Quinn wrote:
'Hess will have a tough job on his hands next season, what with rebuilding a new team, making a new team train and work together and repairing the low morale of players left at the club, not to mention having next to no cash to work with.
You would want to be very brave taking on this appointment, all in all I do think Hess and Robson will give it their very best, and who knows what the future may bring, we've been there and we can rise to the the fore again. go on the Gills!'
That's more like it Tony, at least you understand how we feel, and we've kept our boss.
The Hessenthaler Files
| Personal Information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Hessenthaler | ||
| Date of birth | 17 August 1965 (1965-08-17) | ||
| Place of birth | Dartford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder (retired) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Dartford | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| ?-1983 | Corinthian | ||
| 1983-1984 | Charlton Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 1984-1986 | Corinthian | ||
| 1986-1990 | Dartford | ||
| 1990-1991 | Redbridge Forest | ||
| 1991-1996 | Watford | 195 | (11) |
| 1996-2006 | Gillingham | 303 | (20) |
| 2005 | → Hull City (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2006-2007 | Barnet | 40 | (2) |
| 2007-2010 | Dover Athletic | 36 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 1990 | England National Game XI | 1 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2000-2004 | Gillingham | ||
| 2007-2010 | Dover Athletic | ||
| 2010- | Gillingham | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:19, 21 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). | |||
(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Hessenthaler)