Gareth Ainsworth is on the verge of becoming the latest manager in the Gillingham hotseat – their third boss this season.

The Shrewsbury Town manager has opted not to stay with the League One side and instead will move to Priestfield, replacing John Coleman who has only been in charge for a few months.

Coleman was brought in at the start of January to replace the outgoing Mark Bonner with the remit of keeping Gillingham in League Two first and foremost, but also helping the side climb the league table.

Sitting 19th after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with league leaders Walsall at Priestfield, Coleman has overseen a period that has seen The Gills prove to be harder to beat, but still lacking a cutting edge.

With Coleman having only agreed a deal until the end of the current campaign, it was widely expected that the former Accrington Stanley boss would still be in charge come the end of the season in May.

However, it seems set that Coleman will now make way for former Queens Park Rangers and Wycombe Wanderers boss Ainsworth.

A formal announcement is yet to be made, but it is being widely reported that Ainsworth has left Shrewsbury Town and will join up with Gillingham ahead of Saturday’s League Two game at Harrogate.

There has been a mixed reaction among Gillingham fans to the news with some hoping Ainsworth can do what he did with Wycombe, taking them from League Two to the Championship, however he has overseen a Shrewsbury Town side that currently sit bottom of League One, fourteen points from safety.

The appointment of Ainsworth will clearly divide opinion among Gillingham fans, but one thing is for sure, he will bring more interest to the Kent side with his approach being less than predictable at times.

Recent days have seen a number of out of favour Gillingham players taking to social media to suggest their frustration at being left out of the squad of late.

The likes of Shad Ogie, Jayden Clarke and Bradley Dack have all eluded to their dislike at being ousted by John Coleman and the trio along with the likes of Jack Nolan will be hoping they get a chance to impress under Ainsworth.

Ainsworth only took over at Shrewsbury Town in November and in his 22 games in charge, they have won five, drawn five and lost twelve.

Should the former winger be appointed at Gillingham, he will become the fifth boss under the Galinsons with Neil Harris, Stephen Clemence, Mark Bonner and John Coleman unable to get enough from the Gillingham players at their disposal.