Former Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler is delighted that Peter Taylor has been given the chance to carry on at Priestfield.

Taylor was announced as staying on as manager for the next two years at the club’s Player of the Year Awards on Saturday evening, extending his current contract that had taken him up until the end of the season.

With the side having finished 17th in League One and Taylor now set to shape the squad with the kind of players he wants to bring in, Hessenthaler is pleased that the former England Under 21 manager has been given the chance to take the side forward:

“Peter’s a friend, a family friend and I’ve known him for a long time. It was a decision where Peter and the Chairman sat around the table and decided there and then.”

“That was a bit strange, but now I think Peter can start to build his own team as when he came in back in October, that wasn’t his team.”

“Peter’s remit when he came in was to stay in the league, they’ve achieved that and now it’s time to rebuild and push on again next season.”

Taylor will attend the 125th Kent Senior Cup Final between Dover Athletic and Ebbsfleet United at Priestfield on Monday with one eye on the future at the club.