Gillingham: Steve Lovell has confidence in caretaker team

Gillingham are 20th in League One, two points above the relegation zone

Steve Lovell says Gillingham's caretaker management team are capable of helping the League One side progress during their time in charge.

Under-18s coach Lovell is one of three men working alongside Andy Hessenthaler at Priestfield Stadium after Peter Taylor was sacked last week.

"I don't think the chairman would have given it to us if he didn't think we could do it," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"We will work very hard to make sure we push forward in the time we are here."

Taylor, 62, was dismissed by Gills chairman Paul Scally on New Year's Eve despite winning two of his last four league games.

A club statement said two-time Gillingham boss Hessenthaler would be assisted by the club's coaching staff - Lovell, academy manager Darren Hare and development squad coach Mark Patterson.

Three of the four saw the Kent side lose 2-1 at Port Vale on Saturday, with Patterson absent through illness, which left the club two points above the relegation zone.

Former Wales international Lovell, 54, says the quartet form "a good team".

"We have been at the club a long time, we know what we want and we all sing off the same hymn sheet," he said.

"We all know our onions when it comes to football.

"All we want is to have success for this club because we all love it. We want to make sure the right thing happens here."

Scally has set no timescale on appointing a new manager but Lovell says he, Hessenthaler, Hare and Patterson want the first team to play an expansive game during their time in charge.

"While we are here we will put our own philosophy on the game," he said. "We want to play attacking football and for players to express themselves.

"There are some talented boys at this club and we want to see more of it."

Meanwhile, Gillingham have extended the loan stay of QPR defender Max Ehmer until 7 February.

The 22-year-old has made six appearances since joining the Gills in November.