Gillingham appoint Coleman after sacking manager Bonner

Gillingham have sacked manager Mark Bonner after eight months in charge of the League Two club and replaced him with former Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman.

Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell will take charge until the end of the season.

The Gills have lost their past three league matches, including a 3-0 home defeat by Bromley on Thursday.

Bonner was appointed as the team's third permanent manager in the space of seven months in May 2024 and took charge of 28 matches, winning nine and losing 15.

"Mark is a top guy, a top professional and has given absolutely everything he could have given to help the club succeed," Gillingham's managing director Joe Comper told the club website.

"We liked him from the moment we met him, and we still do, which makes this decision even tougher."

On appointing Coleman, Comper added: "I am delighted that John and Jimmy have agreed to join us.

"[Coleman] knows the league well, he is familiar with our group of players and has even managed a couple of them while with his previous club."

Gillingham were top of the table at the end of September, but 10 defeats from their past 15 games have left them 14th and 10 points short of the play-off places.

Gillingham's game at Chesterfield on Sunday was postponed and their next fixture is at home to Fleetwood Town on 11 January.