League One Gillingham sack manager Justin Edinburgh after back-to-back defeats against Millwall and Oxford
Former Tottenham defender exed after almost two years in charge as Gills slumped to 17th in the table
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JUSTIN EDINBURGH has been sacked by League One side Gillingham.
The Kent club slumped to back-to-back losses against Millwall and Oxford over the New Year’s weekend.
That left them 17th in the table, just eight points above the relegation zone – as chairman Paul Scally swung the axe.
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He told the Gills’ website: “This is obviously a difficult decision to begin 2017 with.
“However, the form over the past 12 months has not been as good as expected, and Monday's defeat [1-0 at home to Oxford] was the final straw.”
Edinburgh, 47, took over at Priestfields in February 2015 and was one of the longest-serving managers in the third tier.
The former Tottenham got off to a flying start at the club and the Gills were challenging for promotion to the Championship in February.
But just two wins in their final fifteen games saw them drop from second to ninth position by the end of last season.
And they carried that inconsistent form into this campaign with a run of five defeats in his last ten games ultimately costing the boss his job.
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In total, Edinburgh won 40 of his 102 games in charge of the club.
Scally added: “I have become close friends with Justin and his coaching staff, and that is what makes this decision even harder.
“I'd like to express my gratitude to Justin for his efforts; he has tried extremely hard to turn things around.”
Edinburgh's assistant David Kerslake and coach Wayne Hatswell have also been relieved of their duties.