Martin Allen has been unveiled as the new Gillingham manager at Priestfield this afternoon.

The former Barnet boss replaces Andy Hessenthaler in the managerial hotseat at Priestfield and has been unveiled to the media in a press conference this afternoon, signing a two year deal with the club.

Allen had been tipped to take over at Priestfield for the past few days and will bring with him his own backroom staff.

John Schofield will be Allen’s new Assistant Manager at the club. He previously held the same role under Allen at Cheltenham Town.

The 47 year old has previously managed Lincoln City and was Assistant Manager at Walsall. Both he and Allen met with the Gillingham players in the morning prior to the press conference at 4pm.

Allen was one of 60 applicants for the Gillingham job, with a shortlist of 16 initially drawn up by Chairman Paul Scally.

Of those 16, four were considered to be strong candidates and a final unanimous decision fell in favour of offering Allen the job.

The former West Ham United midfielder will begin work straight away with the players returning  for pre-season training this morning.

Allen finished with season with Barnet, keeping them in League Two after they had look destined to be relegated to the Conference, but had started the season with Notts County, before being sacked in February.

He began his managerial career with Barnet in 2003, before going on to spend two season in charge with Brentford. Allen left the Bees to take up a job managing Milton Keynes Dons, before moving on to Leicester City where he lasted just four games before being sacked by the Foxes.

Allen was appointed manager of Cheltenham Town in September 2008, but was relieved of his duties after having been put on gardening leave following a nightclub incident and left the club in Decemeber 2009.

He then returned to Barnet for the final eight games of the 2010/11 season, but stayed for just three games before leaving the club for a second time to take over at Notts County.

Since then, Allen has been doing some scouting for Queens Park Rangers before taking over at Barnet in April for the final three games of the season.

Nicknamed “Mad Dog”, Allen is renowned as being a no nonsense manager and will certainly instill some authority at Gillingham, working with Andy Hessenthaler as the club’s Director of Football.

A former England Under 21 international in his playing days, Allen started his career at Queens Park Rangers before leaving for West Ham United in 1989.

He had six seasons at Upton Park before moving on to Portsmouth. His playing career ended in 1998 after just five games for Southend United.

Meanwhile, Gillingham FC will not now be playing a pre-season game during their training camp in Le Touquet, France which starts next week.

There had been the possibilty of a game but a mutual date could not be agreed.

Supporters are advised not to book travel or accomodation as the club are not seeking further opposition.