Mark Patterson has spoken of his disappointment at being sacked by Gillingham Football Club on Friday afternoon.The 44 year old was told on Friday that his services were no longer required by the club and his time as Gillingham’s Development coach had come to an end after returning to Priestfield.

Patterson had enjoyed a successful playing career at The Gills finishing in 2002, but went on to become the youth team manager and had returned to work under Andy Hessenthaler after a brief spell working with Ashford.

Having learnt he was no longer needed by the club, Patterson has spoken exclusively with KSN and told us how he was disappointed with the decision taken by Martin Allen, but now had more time to prepare for the Tour de Kent in three weeks time which will see him cycle almost 200 miles around Kent for charity:

“I have got plenty of time to train now, that’s the official line. I think it’s come at a good time as I can get my bike out every day now without worrying!”

“I have left the club and was sacked on Friday, so I have still to clairfy a few bits and pieces and reasons behind it. Obviously  commenting about it is a bit awkward at the minute, but that’s the situation.”

“I have left the club and I’m looking to get something else pretty quickly.”

“It happens in football, it’s happened to better people than me and will happen to better people than me in the future. I was shocked and I’ve enjoyed the past year developing the players and I thought it had gone reasonably well.”

“We’d managed to get a few players closer to the first team which is always the aim and now it’s a chance for someone else to take it on and hopefully carry on what we’ve done in the last year and over the last few years as we have been relatively successful at Gillingham.”

“A club like ours needs to develop players to create revenue for when we sell them. Hopefully that will continue, but not with me there now.”

Patterson went on to explain how he plans to sit down with Martin Allen and Paul Scally in the coming days to clear up why he was no longer required:

“It’s a busy time for the manager and the chairman, so we have got to catch a time when we can have a chat and clarify a few issues as to why it happened.”

“It is disappointing because I have enjoyed myself there both as a player and a coach. I’ve enjoyed working with the players and the staff and everything about it is a great club, but it was not deemed right for me and I’ve got to move on.”

Despite losing his job, Patterson insists he holds no ill feeling towards the club and was pleased to have seen them win the league this year:

“I am so pleased the team got promoted this year as there’s a lot of players in that squad that were part of our youth set up. They’ve come through over the years and some of the younger ones have had a chance to get involved in with the first team training and to see six of them make their debuts at Burton was great and that’s what it is all about.”

“I love the club and I’ve had a great time here, I have been well received by everybody on and off the pitch and as a player I was well looked after by the fans.”

“Since the news broke on Friday I have had numerous messages from fans and I’d like to say on the record I appreciate what they’ve said.”

“One or two have questioned the reasons why and until it comes out, it’s got to stay that way. I can’t say everything until we know the full facts.”

“It’s been great and I appreciate everyone’s well wishes.”

Patterson has already switched his attention to trying to find another job in football and told KSN how it wasn’t necessarily easy to get something:

“It’s not easy and at this time of year it’s difficult being the end of the season. A lot of clubs have got their staff in place, but hopefully the work we have done here and the work we have done over the years will hold me in good stead if opportunities come along.”

“I’m looking to get back in as soon as I can, what level I get back in at, we’ll see. Not everyone is looking for someone at the level I have been working at and maybe don’t need an under 21 or under 18 coach.”

“I don’t want to be out of it for too long as I love it and just because I have been sacked at one club doesn’t mean I can’t get a job somewhere else.”

“I’ll take it, get on with it and start again.”

With so many Kent clubs having enjoyed success this season, Patterson is hoping that could present him with an opportunity somewhere and was encouraged by the amount of calls he had already had:

“It’s good for Kent football that all of these clubs are doing so well. It would be wrong of me to say I am going to ring such and such, but the footballing network works in interesting ways and I’ve had messages from people I didn’t expect to get messages from.”

“You just never know, I’ve got to take stock of what’s happened, sort it all out and move on. There’s no point crying over spilt milk, I can’t change the decision and I wouldn’t want to change the decision because it has been made and I respect that’s what the manager wants to do.””That’s what he wants to do and it doesn’t stop me from having the ambition and that desire to go on and do what I’ve done here somewhere else.”

“If you look back at the players over the years that we’ve managed to produce, I know I can do it somewhere else as my record of developing your players isn’t in doubt.”

“I have a record of developing footballers, getting them ready for the transition to the first team, so I know we can do it and I will do it somewhere else.”

When questioned whether he would be interested in taking on a job as a manager, Patterson said:

“Maybe, you just don’t know what’s out there. If somebody comes knocking at your door and asks you about it, any position is a viable prospect as I want to get back into the game.”

“I love coaching and I love that aspect of working with players, being on the pitch and working with players, senior players and youth players, I love all that and that’s what I want to continue with and if a managerial role comes along and was right for me and for whatever club, then yes I would.”

“It’s not the be all and end all for me. I just want to get back into working in football as soon as possible.”

Gillingham are expected to announce which players will be staying and leaving Priestfield in the coming days with more departures expected.