Kenny Jackett Resigns as Gillingham’s Director of Football

Kenny Jackett, who managed seven EFL clubs between 1996 and 2022, has stepped down from his position as Gillingham’s director of football, citing medical reasons. The former manager of Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Millwall was appointed to the role shortly after Brad Galinson completed his acquisition of the club in December 2022. Jackett’s arrival coincided with an improvement in the team’s performance last year, as Gillingham moved away from the League Two relegation zone to finish 17th at the end of the 2022-23 season, 12 points clear of the bottom two. A statement from the club read: “In Kenny’s absence over the past couple of months, Joe Comper has worked closely day-to-day with [manager] Mark Bonner and Andy Hessenthaler who continue to oversee first-team and recruitment matters respectively.” Jackett added in a statement on the club’s website: “I want to thank Brad and Shannon for the last couple of years, I’ve enjoyed working at Gillingham. In Mark 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.” Galinson commented: “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.”