Youth coach Ben White has left Gillingham following almost two years in the role.

White tweeted that he has ‘decided to step away’ from his role at Gillingham ‘after a productive & enjoyable 2 seasons’.

He sent his best wishes, adding ‘I look forward to seeing some of the talented & hard working young players within the ranks earning a chance in the first team’.

White joined Gillingham in January 2018 as youth boss following the promotion of Mark Patterson to first team coach to work with then manager Steve Lovell.

He had previously worked as a coach at AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough United, and was on the books at Gillingham as an apprentice in the early 2000’s.

The young Gills enjoyed plenty of success under White, including reaching the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup last term, where they were narrowly defeated by Ipswich Town after wins against Cheltenham Town, AFC Wimbledon and Blackburn Rovers.

His 2017/18 side also won the Merit League 1 title in May last year.

A number of players that White helped bring through the ranks at Priestfield have signed their first professional deals with the club this summer, including defender Miquel Scarlett, striker Roman Campbell and goalkeeper Joe Walsh.

Ex Gillingham defender Craig Stone, who played for the club between 2005 and 2008, will replace White and tweeted that it is ‘great to be working with a great management team and set of players.’

He took his first session last week and mentioned that he was ‘honoured’. 

He will be stepping aside from his role at the Gillingham Girls Academy, and posted that he was ‘gutted’ but knows they will be in ‘safe hands’.