Kenny Jackett steps down from role at Gillingham due to medical reasons and focus on his health

Kenny Jackett steps down from his role as Director of Football at Gillingham due to medical reasons and focus on his health.

The 62 year old joined the club following a takeover in December 2022 and helped steer them away from the League Two relegation zone during that season.

Jackett had taken a back seat from his position over the past couple of months, with the Gills currently 8th in the table.

Kenny Jackett is honest , hard working, clever , a lovely man who was a very good player.
I ain’t seen him for a few years and I sincerely hope he gets over his bad health.
He’s a fighter for sure.
All the best Kenny

— Martin Allen (@MartinAllen1965) November 11, 2024

The club can confirm that Kenny Jackett has stepped down from his role as Director of Football.#Gills

— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) November 11, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Kenny Jackett has decided to step away from his role at Gillingham Football Club due to medical reasons.

Having joined the Gills after the takeover in December 2022, Kenny was an integral part of steering the club away from the relegation zone in that season and laying the foundations for future success.

Kenny said: “I want to thank Brad (Galinson) and (director) Shannon (Hogan Galinson) for the last couple of years, I’ve enjoyed working at Gillingham. In Mark (Bonner) the club has a great guy managing the team and I’m sure he and the club will do well. I wish everyone the best of luck for the rest of the season.”

Speaking of Kenny’s impact on the club, Brad Galinson said: “Kenny has been a calm and knowledgeable person to have around the club. His experience and contacts within the game have been invaluable and whilst we are sad to see him step down, Kenny’s health is the most important thing and must be his sole focus. I’m grateful for what he has given to the club and I’m sure our fans will respect his and his family’s privacy.”

In Kenny’s absence over the past couple of months, Joe Comper has worked closely day-to-day with Mark Bonner and Andy Hessenthaler who continue to oversee first-team and recruitment matters respectively.

As a club we thank Kenny for his contribution and commitment and wish him the very best for the future.

The News reported that back in February 2021 then Pompey boss Kenny Jackett had a mole removed from his forearm, but despite that, he was back on the touchline just 48 hours after surgery following the health scare.

Fans gave their reaction as Kenny Jackett steps down from role at Gillingham due to medical reasons and focus on his health…

@Deutsch_Gills: Best of luck Kenny and wish you the best regarding your health. Health comes first of course ✊

@Naylor94: I wish Kenny all the best with his health and thank him for his time at the club 💙

@gjp12775: All best Kenny from the @Wolves fans. Legend at our club.

@WolvesFirst: Wolves family fully behind you Kenny.

@ScoopsFM: All the best Kenny, Personal health is always no.1. 🙌

@DannyRosamond: All the best to Kenny and his family

@OttoTheWise: All the best Kenny. My thoughts are with you and the family.

@PompeyPatter: All the best to Kenny Jackett. We have our fingers crossed he can return to full health soon. 💙

@PvfcTom789: Get better soon 🙏

@FTM1042: Get well soon Kenny! Sunderland fan here – always used to be a very tough encounter when we faced Portsmouth especially at Fratton Park & you were a fantastic manager at Pompey. All the best Kenny

@gavlar1970: health MUST come 1st, thank you for all your hard work while at the club Kenny, good luck for the future

@Luke_Teachen: I’ve been very vocal on my opinion of Jackett’s success at the Gills but leaving the club via health reasons isn’t the way in which I’d of wanted to see him depart. I wish him and his family the very best and recovery #gills

@julianholigan: Best wishes with your health Kenny. Thanks for some fantastic memories at Wolves

@HampshireWolves: All the best Kenny.

@RobHawley81: All the best to Kenny Jackett, quite rightly putting his health first. He was part of the set up that came in and saved us from certain relegation to the National League, and we’ll always be grateful for that.

@wolvespremier: Wish Kenny all the very best! We did a dinner earlier in May and he was an absolute gentleman. A fantastic manager for us too! Here’s to full health for him very soon ❤️

@WolvesChants24: All the best to Kenny Jackett. Wishing him a speedy recovery with whatever it is troubling him. Top bloke. #WWFC #Wolves

@_AlanLeese: Kenny, genuinely wish you all the very best on a speedy recovery to good health 👍. Fondly remembered by the Wolves masses 👏.

@OscillateWWFC: Wishing Ken all the very best. A good man and two good seasons out of three with us. Hoping he returns to health very soon. #wwfc

@WolfSomerset: Get well soon Kenny! we will always remember what you did at Wolves on a budget which stopped our slump and winning Div 1 with record points after taking over from Saunders 🐺🧡🖤