League Two club Gillingham have sacked manager Neil Harris after a run of three games without a win.

The Gills topped the table after winning their first four league games, but four defeats in seven since then have seen the Kent club drop to eighth.

Former Millwall and Cardiff City boss Harris, 46, had been in charge at Priestfield since 31 January 2022.

A statement on the Gills website said the club have decided "to go in a different direction".

"The club will begin the process of identifying a head coach to take the team forward," the statement added.

Harris is the third EFL boss to lose his job in less than 24 hours after Sheffield Wednesday sacked Xisco Munoz and Bradford parted company with Mark Hughes on Wednesday.

Gillingham owner Brad Galinson, who took over the club in December last year, has targeted promotion to League One following a 17th-placed finish last season.

Harris' final game in charge was the 2-0 defeat at Crewe on Tuesday - a result which left the Gills one point off the automatic promotion places.

His assistant David Livermore will also depart.

Keith Millen - who has been in charge of the club's academy - will take control of first-team matters on an interim basis, with his first game at home against MK Dons on Saturday.

The 53-year-old has previously had stints managing Bristol City and Carlisle United, in 2010-11 and 2021-22 respectively.

He has also had caretaker spells in charge of the Robins (twice), Crystal Palace (three times) and MK Dons.

Analysis - 'Timing a surprise'
Matt Cole, sports editor at BBC Radio Kent

The timing of Neil Harris' departure will come as a surprise to many, even those Gillingham fans who have been less than impressed with the side's current run of form.

The Gills started this campaign under Harris with four straight league wins, and an impressive defeat of Championship side Southampton in the EFL Cup.

Indeed, since American owner Brad Galinson took over the club, the Medway team have been one of the leading performers across the top four divisions.

What may have cost Harris his job was a lack of both goals - with just nine in 11 league games - and attacking flair, and a perception that the side were unable to turn things around when going behind in games.

The Gills owner has stated previously that coming from a US sports background means he's not minded to have a quick turnaround of managers, but after saying they "wish to go in a new direction" and appoint a head coach it will be interesting to see who and what they have in mind.

Local businesswoman Michelle Harness has completed a takeover of Scunthorpe United from David Hilton.

Hilton took over in January but put the club up for sale last month and then withdrew all funding last week..

Harness worked as the club's commercial director for 15 years and was previously on the board.

BBC Radio Humberside understands talks are ongoing between the club and former owner Peter Swann to enable them to continue playing at Glanford Park.

After Hilton announced he would no longer be putting money into the club last week, they released a statement to say they would move their home games to Gainsborough Trinity's ground after this Saturday's match against Brackley.

However, Gainsborough said that this had been asserted "without their knowledge or consent".

Last week's announcement from Hilton also saw fans come together to raise over £50,000 to help cover unpaid wages.

"There are a lot of challenges and problems to overcome, but David has taken no fee for the club, and wiped all monies that he personally invested to enable this deal to happen," Harness said in a statement on the club's website.

"There is now a lot of work to do behind the scenes to get our great football club back on track, and that work starts immediately with the fantastic team we have working for us, starting with the appointment of a new board."

Scunthorpe, who were in the Championship as recently as 2011, have endured a dreadful period over the past five years.

They were relegated from League One in 2019 and then saw their 72-year spell in the Football League come to an end in 2022 after a campaign in which they won just four of 46 matches.

Worse was to come last season as they were relegated down to the sixth tier of English football.

They are fourth in National League North after 10 games, two points off the top.

fter 25 years in charge - culminating in arguably the most miserable period in the club's history - property developer Ron Martin has sold Southend United Football Club. The Shrimpers said a takeover deal was reached with a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees. What did it mean to the fans attending Tuesday night's home win against Oxford City?

Short presentational grey line
'Over the moon'
Justin Rees heads the consortium that has agreed to buy Southend
IMAGE SOURCE,SOUTHEND UNITED FC
Image caption,
Justin Rees was the co-founder of Sydney-based company Eighty20 Solutions
Paul Lee was dressed at Roots Hall stadium in stereotypical Australian attire with corks dangling from his hat - a nod to the club's new custodian.

He said the takeover announcement at 16:40 BST was a huge moment for him, his wife and their daughter - all Blues fans.

"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Mr Lee, who was worried the club would be wound up in the High Court on Wednesday over its tax debt to HMRC.

"I am over the moon - no more anxiety scrolling through Instagram and Twitter every day to find out whether we'll have a club come 4 October."

He said he hoped the Shrimpers' transfer embargo would now be lifted.

The club said its HMRC debt, previously estimated at £275,000, had been paid off in full.

Nick and Emily Hardy were at Tuesday night's match with their two children
Nicky Hardy, who has been a Blues fan for more than 25 years, said the last five years had been "pure pain".

The club was relegated from the Football League in 2021 - for the first time in 101 years.

"Ron Martin has just run the club into the ground - embargos, unpaid staff, unpaid players, hopefully this is the end of it - it's great," said Mr Hardy, who said he did not know anything about the incoming owners.

"Beggars can't be choosers. I think they will be good; it's a consortium; I think a lot of local businesses are in there with interest in the club."

Mr Hardy expects the club to now redevelop the stadium, rather than sell it off as housing and relocate to Fossetts Farm - as was the plan under Mr Martin.

He was joined by his two children and wife Emily, who added: "There is still that due diligence [needed from the new owners] to do the job effectively and safely and make sure we are run properly, and not just take over and leave it."

This is the first of the 3 biggest games for Hibs to come in successive League games - not just because of the teams involved, but we could win 2 of them to push us up the league table.

The Jambos are first up at Tynecastle, but are certainly not a team to be wary of, no more than any other. We have been playing well recently, creating lots of chances and controlling games for long spells. The game against Dundee proved more awkward than expected, but we won't come up against a keeper's performance like that every week. Hibs dominated in every regard and there's no reason to doubt that we won't have numerous chances against Hearts. Another draw might be on the cards, but I hope that we have the ambition to come away with a win.

They, on the other hand, have struggled a bit in the League recently, with a drab win against a poor Ross County on Saturday one of their highlights. Hearts don't score many goals, but they lose even fewer, so we have to try to alter that record.

Mark Hughes: Former Wales boss sacked as Bradford City manager - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67012337

Premier League

Minizin 13
Lady Jane 12
Derby 11
Zinman 11
B.B.B. 11
Stairs 5
Dingle 3
Blue B 1

So after the all round disaster that was last week, this week we were back to simple mediocrity!!  Leicester's win at Blackburn proved to the the cash cow of points this week, where 19 points were scored, including 4 CR bonus balls.  Norwich's win saw a further 15 points gained and the Forest v Brentford game garnered the most correct scores with 2.  Ironically, the surprise 4-0 victory for the Baggies at Preston accumulated -3 points, the lowest of the week, oh ye of little faith!!!!  It's a good job Zinman doesn't include any of Wednesday's games or that might get a full house of points for such an easy prediction!!! 

Minizin leads the way with 13 points despite missing on the Gamball.  He was able to throw in two correct scores as well as a CR on the bonus and this rescued a half decent week for him.  In 2nd spot is the improving Lady Jane with 12 points, she is just waiting for that blow out week to get her back in amongst it!!  Three players are joint third on 11 points - Derby, Zinman and BBB.  The all got there is pretty much the same way, BBB got the Gamball but missed on the Bonus whereas the other two reversed that.

Big drop down to Stairs with 5 points, who has a second poor week in a row.  Dingle's 3 points and general form continues to be poor and Blue Baggie finishes last for the second week in a row although at least he finished positive with his single point, this time though he is quite a way behind the leaders so that might hurt him in a tight table!!

111 Stairs
105 Minizin
100 Derby
88 Zinman
81 BBB
78 Blue Baggie
73 Lady Jane
59 Dingle

Some movement in the table this week.  Stairs is still at the top but his lead has been cut to just 6 points over Minizin in 2nd place.  Derby is a further 5 points behind and the top three are starting to pull away from the pack and all now have hit the century mark!!

Only 15 points now separate 4th to 7th.  Zinman now has 4th place all to himself but BBB is finding some form and clawing his way up the table to 5th.  Blue B lost two places this week after a cumulative score of zero over the past two weeks and LJ is finding some consistency and now is just 5 points behind Blue.

Dingle needs to find some form quickly, he is already 14 points adrift of LJ and is now 19 points behind Blue in the relegation PO spot!!  Early days still of course but we have seen players get left behind before.

Cheers
SCO


Championship

BaggieOne  10
AAA            9
Twerton        9
SCO            5
Themaclad    5
Snooty        3
Sanjay        -1

Another poor week of predictions with the Championship matching last week's total score of just 40 points. Two consolations - this shows great consistency and at least one player managed to achieve double figures! Two of the match selections gave up 80% of the total points so it was a good job I included the Norwich/Blues and Blackburn/Leicester games! Once again the gamball proved difficult (I know, it just doesn't feel right predicting a Villa win) though at least everyone scored with the scoreball - not too surprising as only 2 teams failed to score.

BaggieOne heads the week's table with 10 points thanks to a full set of balls. He only got 3 predictions right and no correct scores but those balls got him to the top of the table. AAA and Twerton are a point back with identical returns, though I was tempted to give Twerton an extra point for being the only player to predict an Albion win - the fact that he also played his bonus on that suggests 1 of 3 things; he hasn't watched much of us this season; he was drinking when he submitted his predictions; or he is an out and out optimist!

SCO matched AAA and Twerton in terms of his score predictions but failed to land his bonus to drag him down level with Themaclad on 5 points. Mac got the most correct predictions, 4, but no correct scores and no bonus. Snooty matched B1's correct results but blew his balls to collect just 3 points while Sanjay's struggles continued. He was heading for a minimum score until the last game of the weekend gave him 3 points, not enough to reach zero though.

Twerton 86
AAA 84
BaggieOne 79
SCO 76
Snooty 71
Themaclad 64
Sanjay 45

Only one positional change this week as B1 climbs above SCO into 3rd place. A close table with the exception of Sanjay who is going backwards!

Zin

THE MATCH

SATURDAY 7TH OCTOBER KO 3:00PM

v

LAST MATCH



As expected, defeat number 8 of the season happened, about the only positive it was only 1-0. He did actually change formation going 442, unfortunately it was Fletcher & Smith up front. It didn't take long for the Baggies to score, a ball down our left, pulled back and finished by Swift. We had a chance Bakinson's effort tipped behind for a corner. Onto the 2nd half and despite trailing we only had one shot and that nearly left the stadium West Brom treated the 2nd half like a training session comfortably seeing the game out.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI & XISCO, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Next up and our former boss, DM, brings Huddersfield to Hillsborough. DM has only been in charge for a few games, drawing 2 and losing to Birmingham Tuesday night. He has them playing 352 as he did for us last season. The Village are already 8 points better off than us on 10 pts, a points total we might get by the end of the season    I think DM should have enough to keep the Village up this season and will probably get a positive result this Saturday. Tom Lees still plays for them but I couldn't tell you much about the rest of the team.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI & XISCO, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 21
HUDDS 27
DRAWS 15

CURRENT FORM

OWLS              -                                                                                           

HUDDS            -                                                                               

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

MATTHEW DONOHUE
Paul Hodskinson and Jonathan Hunt
Fourth Official : Scott Oldham

THE TEAM

Vasquez
Palmer Iorfa Bernard James
Gassama Bannan Byers Musaba
Gregory Windass

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Gregory

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

55

ATTENDANCE

25211

BML LEAGUE

Washington 5
Maddix 2
Owlkev 1
Imre
SCO

BMPL

Stateside 2
Wereham 2
Pei -11

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Burnley v Chelsea
Ipswich v Preston
Leyton Orient v Reading
Bradford v Swindon
Solihull v Aldershot

AHHDH

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE




KATE BECKINSALE TRIBUTE PIC

Gamball:
Sheff Wed - Huddersfield

Others:
Everton - Bournemouth
Sunderland - Middlesbrough
Coventry - Norwich
Millwall - Hull
QPR - Blackburn
Brighton - Liverpool
West Ham - Newcastle
Wolves - Villa
Arsenal - Man City

Altrincham 2-0 Aldershot
Barnet 3-1 Fylde
Chesterfield 2-1 Bromley
Dag & Red 1-2 York
Dorking 2-0 Kidderminster
Eastleigh 2-1 Ebbsfleet
Gateshead 2-1 Wealdstone
Oldham 2-2 Maidenhead United
Solihull Moors 1-0 Rochdale
Southend 1-0 Oxford City
Woking 1-2 Halifax

Wednesday

Boreham Wood 2-0 Hartlepool

League Table After Matchday 13

Spireitematt - 297
Amelia - 285
SaltergateBorn - 261
St Charles - 235
Lord Snoots - 209
Dancing - 205
Devon - 128