Huge changes have been made at Gillingham with new appointments confirmed to help transform the club for the better as they struggle in League Two.
The club have announced that both Andy Hessenthaler and Kenny Jackett are to become Head of Recruitment and Director of Football.
As mentioned by Gabriel Sutton, Gillingham are finally getting an actual, proper structure in place with footballing minds at the side independent from the management team.
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๏ธ | The club is delighted to announce the appointments of both ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ and ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐๐ as Head of Recruitment and Director of Football respectively. https://t.co/cuAQ2rhv3R#Gills
โ Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) January 5, 2023
GILLINGHAM STATEMENT
Andy Hessenthaler and Kenny Jackett have joined the Gills.
The club is delighted to announce the appointments of both Andy Hessenthaler and Kenny Jackett.
Hessenthaler returns to MEMS Priestfield Stadium as Head of Recruitment with Jackett taking up the role of Director of Football.
Andy, 57, leaves his role as Dover Athletic manager to take up his new position at ME7 while Jackett was most recently in charge of League 2 side Leyton Orient. They join the club with immediate effect and will work closely with the board of directors, and manager Neil Harris.
Hessenthaler played over 350 games for the Gills and, as manager, guided the club to their highest ever league finish of 11th in the Championship.
Jackett, capped 31 times by Wales during his playing career, has three promotions to his name as a manager (Swansea, Millwall and Wolves) and also won the EFL Trophy in 2018-19 during his time with Portsmouth. The 60-year-old spent his entire playing career with Watford, making over 400 appearances.
This comes just a few weeks after American businessman Brad Galinson sealed his takeover of the Gills, buying a majority stake in the club, which had been owned by Paul Scally since 1995 and is to keep a minority shareholding in the club, who were played in the Championship between 2000 and 2005.
“This is a monumental, exciting and historical time in our club’s long history,” Scally said.
A statement on the club website said: “Gillingham Football Club, after a long, collaborative due diligence process, can today confirm that Brad Galinson has acquired a majority shareholding in GFC Holdings and Gillingham Football Club Ltd.”
Galinson said: “Paul Scally has done an excellent job over the last 27 years and we hope with our involvement the club will move forward. A bright future with, hopefully, more goals and a lucrative transfer window are on the horizon.”
This is what fans made of the huge changes at Gillingham with new appointments confirmed…
@JustinJBennett: BlimeyโฆโฆIโve got some weird and unexpected feelings & emotions inside me that could be positivity, enthusiasm and excitementโฆโฆ.!! ๐
@jfoote4: Fantastic appointments in both Hess & Kenny Jackett. Hopefully some player news incoming over the next few days too ๐
@tonywoodrow12: A serious and professional upgrade for the club. Well done. COYG ๐๐๐
@Jake_PFC: Wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy
@TheJamzter: To have Kenny Jackett on board is massive and Hess aswell who knows the club. Both have a good eye for talent. Fantastic news!!!
@Alexanderjrose1: Excellent appointment of jackett, heโs past his best as a manager but would be a great Dof- orient fan
@wupfanzine: A lot of experience there. Good appointments IMHO.
@LauraP_71: Times they are a changing.
@Clarkeyboy12345: may you rip
@AaronMcCall22: Great appointments that… Now let’s see them put there heads together and recruit some decent signings in January to push us on. ๐คโฝ
@Simon_ERobinson: What does a Director of Football do? I thought it was predominantly recruitment but if Hess is doing that what’s Jackett’s role?
@joe121099: Kenny Jackett as a DOF hahahahaha christ
@MikeM1987Gills: Brilliant news, 2 men with a hell of a lot of experience. Mr Gillingham is back! #Gills
@al13gills: Brilliant appointments now time for some new signings!
@Lewisjacobs_: Rate that hopefully some decent players on the way
@horne1995: I know bringing Hess back isn’t popular – but he knows the club inside & out, something which will no doubt be very useful to Mr Galinson. Kenny Jackett however – fuck knows how we got him! Both good additions IMO
@Deutsch_Gills: Fantastic news. A solid structure is being built with experienced heads. Both have a decent history within the game. Hopefully building a better future. Welcome Hess and Kennie. #Gills #DoF
@hxrryrussell: lets gooo, this should help us massively improve as a club. lets get some signings through now #gillinghamfc #gfc
@gfc_trenbog: Huge move from the club Kenny jacket as DOF will be a massive boost and Hess has always found talent very exciting now get some players in UTG
@StevenDScott74: it’s the 2nd (well about 9th) coming of hess. pleased that it atleast looks as though there is a plan. how Harris keeps his job now if results don’t change. 3 games is all I would say he has including Leicester.
@mason0086: Nice professional appointments ๐ โฝ๏ธ๐ต a step in the right direction
@TGJ03: Fucking hell we are actually a football club
@OllyM07: Proper structure off the field. Still think Hess could do a job to toughen up our care bear midfield #Gills
@alancollinspdb: These are both positive appointments. For all his faults as a manager, Hessenthaler always had a good eye for talent, and having someone of Jackett’s calibre at the club can only help turn things around. @BradGalinson wasting no time in making the changes the club needs! #gills
@Gecmo_: Really can’t see any negatives in this. Hess has done this job before when we won L2 and Jackett has countless contacts within the game. Brilliant move #Gills
@StockyD_14: Happy with this. Now some players to get us out the mess please ๐ #gills
@DeanGripton: Two experienced men in behind the scenes – adds to the pressure on Harris. New Gills regime certainly looking to make a positive early impression. #GFC #EFL
This is sensational news! ๐ Jackett will obviously step in if Harris continues to fail. I still want Harris to succeed but if we fail to beat Hartlepool / Colchester then itโs good to know weโve got a quick and decent replacement inside the club already! ๐ฅ ๐ pic.twitter.com/mqY8PX2wKA
โ Kyle Spencer โ (@KyleSpenc) January 5, 2023
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